In the build-up to Tuesday’s friendly between Argentina and Benin, a match set to mark Lionel Messi’s international farewell, Benin captain Steve Mounié has placed the psychological side of the contest at the centre of the conversation. The forward believes his side must be ready for a combative Argentina and resist any attempt to draw them into needless discipline problems.
Key takeaways
- Benin captain Steve Mounié has accused Argentina and other South American teams of using provocative, overly physical tactics.
- The Brest-born striker pointed to a 2024 Ligue 1 confrontation with Argentina defender Leonardo Balerdi as a personal reference point.
- Mounié was sent off after reacting to an incident involving Balerdi during Brest’s meeting with Olympique de Marseille.
- He says Benin’s ability to remain calm will be crucial in Tuesday’s friendly.
- The match is expected to be Messi’s final appearance for Argentina at international level.
A warning from the Benin camp
Mounié’s concerns extend beyond one opponent. He said Argentina’s squad under Lionel Scaloni shares a wider South American competitive culture built around unsettling rivals, verbally and physically, before they can settle into the game.
“That is how the Argentina team competes,” Mounié said. “South American sides try to get inside your mind and they can play in a dirty way. We saw it at the World Cup, and in Paraguay’s match against France as well.”
For Benin, the captain argued, the central task will be emotional control rather than simply coping with Argentina’s quality on the ball. He believes opponents are repeatedly tested through conversation, confrontation and small provocations, with the risk that an irritated player collects a booking or is dismissed.
“They are always trying to disturb you and make you react,” he said. “If you are not mentally strong, you fall into it and end up with a yellow card or a red. We have to manage that.”
The Balerdi episode still lingers
Mounié’s remarks were informed by his own history with Balerdi, the Marseille centre-back. During a Ligue 1 match between Brest and Olympique de Marseille in 2024, Mounié said Balerdi gripped and shook his arm. The Benin forward responded by pushing him in the chest, after which Balerdi went to ground. Mounié was dismissed, one of the rare red cards of his career.
He described Balerdi as a clever player in such situations, but said their friction had begun before that sending-off. In an earlier clash, Mounié claimed the defender held him by the chest, while he himself received the caution.
“He has bad intentions,” Mounié said. “If I meet him on the pitch again, I will tell him not to try those tricks on the younger players in our squad.”
