Lionel Messi is set to make his final appearance for Argentina on Tuesday when the world champions face Benin in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
About 85,000 fans are expected to fill the stadium to celebrate the 39-year-old forward, who will bring his 21-year international career to an end after earning a record 207 caps and scoring 125 goals for Argentina.
Messi announced his international retirement in August, saying he had given everything to the national team and believed the time was right to give younger players an opportunity. He took part in his final training session with the squad on Monday at the facility named after him in Ezeiza.
The Inter Miami forward remains under contract with the Major League Soccer club until 2028, although he has indicated that he could retire from football earlier than expected following the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago.
Argentina’s farewell plans will include several members of the squad that helped Messi win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, including Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. Romero is expected to take over the captaincy after Messi’s departure.
Coach Lionel Scaloni has acknowledged the challenge of replacing Argentina’s talisman but has expressed confidence in the emerging generation. The team has already shown signs of life without Messi, thrashing Bolivia 4-0 before recording a 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso, with young talents Franco Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni scoring their first international goals.
Messi leaves Argentina as the country’s most-capped player, leading scorer and top assist provider. His greatest achievement came in 2022, when he inspired Argentina to their first World Cup triumph in 36 years, cementing his status as one of the greatest players in the country’s history and as the heir to Diego Maradona’s legacy.
During his international career, Messi also helped Argentina win the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2008 Olympic gold medal and the 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Cup.
His career with the national team was also marked by painful defeats, including the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and the 2016 Copa America final against Chile.
One question remains unanswered ahead of his farewell: who will inherit Argentina’s iconic number 10 shirt? Scaloni said the number would remain untouched until Messi’s final game before a decision is made on its future.
