As Argentina prepare to bid farewell to Lionel Messi next Tuesday against Benin, the occasion is already carrying unusual weight for the visiting side. For Benin midfielder Tijani Mohamed, a place in Messi’s final international match is an opportunity that reaches far beyond the result.
A farewell fixture with a personal prize in mind
Mohamed has made no secret of what he wants once the match is over: Messi’s shirt. Speaking before the meeting, the Benin player said he was determined to leave with the Argentina captain’s final jersey for his country.
- Mohamed said he would be the player to get Messi’s shirt, swearing on his mother that he would do so.
- He plans to ask Messi directly, telling him that he admires him and requesting the jersey after the game.
- For Benin’s players, appearing in Messi’s last Argentina outing is being treated as a defining career moment rather than an ordinary friendly.
The midfielder also expects a warm reception from Argentina supporters. In his view, the match will be a celebration for a player he considers the best in the world, even if Benin are not regarded as one of Argentina’s most demanding opponents.
Argentina’s special shirt enters the farewell scene
Messi and his Argentina team-mates are set to wear a commemorative Adidas shirt for the Benin match, created to mark the end of his international career with the Albiceleste. That makes the jersey Mohamed is pursuing especially significant, with the final match-worn version likely to become an even more prized keepsake.
The wider demand for the farewell collection has already been evident in Mexico, where the shirt officially went on sale on 25 September.
- The supporter edition has been priced at 1,999 Mexican pesos.
- The player version costs 2,999 Mexican pesos.
- Online stock through Adidas sold out quickly after release.
- Availability may still vary at individual Adidas physical stores.
Benin arrive for more than a fixture
For Argentina, the evening is expected to centre on Messi’s departure from the national team. For Benin, it offers a rare crossing of football worlds: an African squad sharing the field with one of the game’s defining figures on his final Argentina appearance.
Mohamed has put the contest’s most personal subplot into clear terms. Benin will take on Argentina, but he intends to spend the closing moments making sure Messi’s last international shirt goes home with him.
