Argentina’s farewell to Lionel Messi will reach far beyond the Monumental on 6 October. For Serie A’s Argentine contingent, a night of tribute in Buenos Aires will be followed by a hurried crossing of the Atlantic and an uncomfortable return to a decisive league weekend.
The decision
The Monumental has already sold out, with 85,000 tickets gone inside two hours, for what is expected to be Messi’s final appearance for Argentina. A commemorative shirt has been prepared in the colours of the national flag, with three vertical stripes and the May Sun moved to the back — a design detail that underlines the sense of a great era approaching its close.
Lionel Scaloni has selected 28 players for three October friendlies: Bolivia on 1 October, Burkina Faso on 4 October and Benin on 6 October. The Benin match, likely to begin during the night of 6-7 October in Italy because of the time difference, is set to become the centrepiece of the celebrations.
Argentina have also invited the entire squad that won the 2022 World Cup, together with their families. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina are therefore expected to be involved in the occasion despite sitting outside the principal group for the friendlies.
Serie A will have a strong presence. Lautaro Martinez is the obvious focal point, while Nico Gonzalez, Franco Mastantuono, Nico Paz, Leonardo Balerdi, Matías Soulé and Santiago Castro are also among the Italian-based players connected to the gathering. Roma, Inter, Como, Juventus and Fiorentina will all be watching the itinerary closely.
For Lautaro, the journey carries an emotional value beyond any physical concern. Scaloni has also placed the Inter captain among the leading figures for Argentina’s next cycle. The coach has indicated that Cristian Romero will be captain, with Emiliano Martinez, Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro all possible wearers of the armband.
Lautaro has reflected on the standard Messi leaves behind, saying the established players and the emerging generation must begin again after the legacy created by their captain. Nico Paz, meanwhile, has rejected the idea that anyone can replace Messi in the number 10 role, calling him the greatest in history and describing the chance to share a pitch with him as a dream.
Sunday’s picture
The tribute comes during an already extended international break, and its final date creates a demanding turnaround for Italian clubs. The most optimistic expectation is that some South American players will be back in Italy on Thursday, leaving little more than a final training session before the next round of Serie A.
Inter host Parma on Saturday 10 October, with Lautaro potentially arriving at San Siro after thousands of kilometres of travel. Cristian Chivu will have greater time with his European internationals, whose commitments are due to finish no later than Tuesday 6 October, but his captain’s condition will require assessment almost immediately.
Fiorentina face Genoa on the same Saturday, putting similar pressure on Paolo Vanoli and Mastantuono. The young midfielder is expected to return on the same timetable as Lautaro, making his availability difficult to judge until the final days before the match.
Como and Roma are no better placed. Their high-level meeting at the Sinigaglia is scheduled for Sunday, and Cesc Fabregas must wait on Nico Paz. Gian Piero Gasperini could have at least three players returning from Argentina, adding another complication to his preparation.
Juventus travel to Cagliari on Sunday evening, a fixture that carries its own difficulties at this stage of the season. Nico Gonzalez has been among the Bianconeri’s strongest performers, yet Luciano Spalletti may not know his physical condition until the last moment.
Late international returns are an established cost for clubs with South American players, but this particular window threatens to leave several Serie A coaches working with incomplete preparations. The burden is not confined to Italy: Diego Simeone has four players involved in the Messi occasion, including his son, before Atletico Madrid visit Alaves in Vitoria on Saturday.
For one evening, Buenos Aires will pause for Messi. Serie A will share in that farewell through its players, before its clubs must quickly turn back to the more ordinary demands of the championship.
