Buenos Aires is preparing for an evening at the Monumental that will carry more weight than a normal friendly. Lionel Messi, 39, has already confirmed that his international career is nearing its close, and Argentina’s match against Benin on 6 October is set to be his final appearance for the Albiceleste.
The captain has offered a first look at the shirt reserved for the occasion, sharing the special design on Instagram with the message: “Final match… a shirt for a lifetime.” It is a largely sky-blue jersey, interrupted by one white vertical stripe down the middle. Its personal details are intended for a farewell: Messi’s name and number will be printed in gold, while the Sun of May is embossed on the back.
A three-match home window
Argentina will remain at home throughout the international break, though Messi will feature only in the closing fixture. The programme begins in Córdoba on Wednesday 30 September, when Bolivia arrive. The squad then returns to the Monumental for Burkina Faso on 3 October, before Benin complete the sequence three days later.
- Argentina v Bolivia — 30 September, Córdoba
- Argentina v Burkina Faso — 3 October, Monumental, Buenos Aires
- Argentina v Benin — 6 October, Monumental, Buenos Aires
For Messi, the Benin match will turn a routine place on the calendar into a national occasion. The Monumental has hosted many of Argentina’s defining nights, and this one will provide the setting for the captain’s last match in the light-blue and white of his country.
