Lionel Messi will play his final match for Argentina against Benin in Buenos Aires on Oct. 6. The friendly will be played at River Plate’s Monumental Stadium.
Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, said in a video statement that the match would give the 39-year-old captain the farewell he deserves in his home country. Tapia described the event as “Lionel Andres Messi’s final tango.”
Messi will have the opportunity to say goodbye to his fans after more than 20 years with the Argentina national team. Players from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families have also been invited to the match.
He ended his national-team career
Messi announced on Aug. 31 that he was retiring from international football. The star, who made more than 200 appearances for Argentina, became his country’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player with 125 goals.
Messi played a role in Argentina’s Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, as well as its 2022 World Cup triumph. He scored his last official goal for the national team against Egypt in the last 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Argentina reached the final of the tournament but lost 1-0 to Spain.
Two friendlies before the farewell match
The match against Benin will be the final game in Argentina’s three-match friendly schedule. The program will begin on Sept. 30 with a match against Bolivia at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Cordoba.
Argentina will face Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on Oct. 3. Messi’s farewell to the national team will take place against Benin three days later.
No stadium capacity restriction will be applied
The matches were scheduled after disciplinary sanctions were imposed on Argentina over incidents during the 2026 World Cup. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee decided that Argentina would play its next two home matches at 50 percent stadium capacity; the second restriction was deferred subject to a probationary period.
The sanctions also covered post-match conduct and a banner displayed by players defending Argentina’s claim to the Falkland Islands, which are administered by the United Kingdom, after Argentina’s semifinal victory over England. The active capacity restriction is expected to have been completed before the match against Benin. As a result, no stadium-capacity limit will apply during Messi’s farewell match.
After completing his national-team career, Messi will continue playing club football for Inter Miami of Major League Soccer.
