Messi set to play final Argentina match against Benin in Buenos Aires

Lionel Messi is scheduled to play his final match for Argentina on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. Argentina face Benin in a friendly at the Monumental stadium, River Plate's home ground in Buenos Aires. Kick-off is set for 20:00 local time. The BBC lists this as 00:00 BST on Wednesday.

The match will be Messi's 208th appearance for Argentina. He is the country's most-capped player and its all-time record goalscorer, with 125 international goals. Argentina will wear a specially designed kit to mark his farewell.

Messi announced his international retirement after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. He has played in six World Cups. He won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the Copa América in 2021 and 2024. With Messi, Argentina also lost Copa América finals in 2007, 2015 and 2016 and the 2014 World Cup final. He quit the national team once before, in 2016, and reversed that decision within months.

Reported details

According to the BBC, Messi announced his retirement on 31 August, saying he had nothing more to give. El País reported that he made the announcement in a public letter, weeks after his father's death. The newspaper quoted the letter: "It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deep down — but I understand that the time has come."

According to El País, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) organised the match as a tribute. Music is planned before the game, at half-time and at the final whistle, followed by a surprise finale. El País reported that more than 85,000 spectators will attend. The BBC describes the crowd as sold out.

El País also reported that coach Lionel Scaloni called up members of the Qatar 2022 squad, including Ángel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi, who have already retired from the national team. According to the BBC, Argentina beat Burkina Faso 7-0 in a warm-up match.

What is disputed

The reports differ on timing. The BBC says Messi announced his retirement six weeks after the final. El País says it came a month after the defeat. El País also gives two goal totals: 125 in its article body and 175 in its standfirst. The Guardian also gives 125; the BBC calls him Argentina's record goalscorer without giving a figure.

What each side says

According to the BBC, Scaloni maintains that Messi can return to the national team if he ever wants to, and that there is no embarrassment in changing one's mind.

Benin captain Steve Mounie, who is injured and will not play, told BBC Sport the match is a big event for Benin and for football. "I even paid for my own ticket to come here," he said.

According to the BBC, Doug Bierton, founder of Classic Football Shirts, believes Messi's last match-worn shirt would be a major collector's item.

All reports reviewed by Vocemundi were published before kick-off. They do not include the result or Messi's minutes played.

Analysis

The match closes an international career that El País puts at 21 years, but it may not settle every question. Messi reversed his 2016 retirement within months, and Scaloni has said, according to the BBC, that a return would carry no embarrassment. A second reversal therefore cannot be ruled out, nor can it be assumed. For Argentina, the immediate issue is how the team adapts without its record scorer and most-capped player. For Messi, the reports point to continuing activity at club level and in club ownership. How the farewell itself unfolds is not yet known.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.