Argentina has selected Lionel Messi for the team for an October 6 friendly against Benin which is rumoured to be his last game for the national side after he gave the decision to retire from international football after the FIFA World Cup.
The 39-year-old attacker made his decision to hang up his boots from Argentina duty in August and ended his international career of 20 years after clinching the 2022 World Cup and Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia said Messi had been invited to make his farewell appearance in front of home supporters at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental.
“So he has the farewell he deserves, as the symbol of our national team, our captain Lionel Andres Messi, is here in Argentina on October 6,” Tapia revealed.
The Monumental has a capacity of approximately 85,000. Tapia has also invited members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning team to the event, which he called an “unforgettable event.”
Argentina is set to play three friendlies. They will play Bolivia at Cordoba on Sept. 30, and Burkina Faso at Buenos Aires on Oct. 3. The team will then take on Benin at the Monumental.
Messi’s 208th and final Argentina appearance is anticipated in the match. He is already the leading goalscorer in the country with 125 goals for the national team.
His retirement was announced after personal challenges, as his father Jorge passed away last month. Earlier, Messi said that he had “serious doubts” about footballing for much longer.
Meanwhile, Argentina will have to deal with a few absences in the friendlies. Leandro Paredes will sit on the bench for 10 matches and Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada are each on the bench for 7 matches and 1 match, respectively, due to the incidents after Argentina’s World Cup final loss to Spain.
Messi has a contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami till 2028.