Buenos Aires is preparing for a long goodbye. Lionel Messi is set to play his final match for Argentina when the world champions meet Benin at the Monumental, with French viewers facing a deep-night start for an occasion built around the No. 10.
Key takeaways
- Argentina face Benin in a friendly at the Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night, kicking off at 1am in France.
- Pre-match entertainment is expected to push the actual start back to around 1.15am French time.
- Messi will wear a commemorative Argentina shirt featuring gold lettering and a special pair of national-colour boots.
- Benin will play Argentina for the first time, in a rare meeting with a non-African national side.
- A tribute ceremony is scheduled after the final whistle and is expected to last about 50 minutes.
A final Argentina night at the Monumental
The match is scheduled for 8pm in Argentina, but the scale of the farewell means the sporting action will not begin immediately. With the planned pre-match programme, kick-off is expected at approximately 1.15am in France.
For Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, the occasion will include a shirt designed specifically for his final Argentina appearance. His name and No. 10 will be printed in gold and positioned within the centre of the Sun of May, visible as a faint design across the shirt. He will also wear bespoke boots in Argentina colours.
The post-match programme is set to begin at around 10.10pm local time, or 3am in France. Argentina’s federation has planned a major tribute to its national icon, with celebrations expected to run for roughly 50 minutes.
The fixture will be shown live on L’Équipe Live Foot, with Argentine commentator Omar Da Fonseca involved in the coverage.
Benin bring familiar faces from French football
Benin arrive for a first-ever meeting with Argentina. The Cheetahs have rarely played against opposition from outside Africa, making the trip to Buenos Aires a historic one for the squad.
Several players have connections to French football. Former Montpellier and Brest forward Steve Mounié has travelled despite an injury, while Lorient attacker Aiyegun Tosin is also in the group.
The squad also includes former Pau midfielder Sessi D’Almeida and ex-Nîmes player Mattéo Ahlinvi. Besiktas regular Junior Olaïtain, who previously played in France with Niort, Troyes and Grenoble, is another recognisable name in the Benin side.
