Messi Set for Official Argentina Farewell Against Benin at El Monumental
Lionel Messi will make what is set to be his final Argentina appearance when the world champions meet Benin at El Monumental on October 6, with the 84,000-capacity stadium staging an official farewell to the country’s record international player.
Messi has been selected by Lionel Scaloni despite confirming in August that his Argentina career was coming to an end. The forward marked the approaching occasion on social media with a brief message describing a final game but a shirt that will remain with him forever.
Farewell preparations at El Monumental
- Messi announced his decision to retire from international football in August, following time to reflect after the World Cup final.
- He said the choice had been painful and continued to hurt, but that he felt the moment had arrived to step away from the national side.
- The 39-year-old stressed that he had always given everything for Argentina, both through the trophy-winning years and beforehand, in an effort to give supporters pride and happiness through football.
- Scaloni subsequently named Messi in the squad for the October 6 fixture against Benin in Buenos Aires.
- A newly released video shows Messi exchanging a regular Argentina top for a commemorative Adidas shirt bearing his name and gold No. 10, before collecting white boots.
Messi’s final total for Argentina stands at 207 caps, 125 goals and 68 assists. His international career included membership of the 2022 World Cup-winning side, whose players have all been invited by the Argentine Football Association to join the occasion against Benin.
Tickets and Argentina’s next chapter
Tickets are due to go on sale on Tuesday at 6pm. Prices range from €52 to €278, with further adult categories set at €104, €185 and €260. Children’s admission has been priced at €17.
The final whistle at El Monumental will close an era for Argentina and leave Scaloni to reshape his attacking plans ahead of the next World Cup qualifying matches. Messi leaves as the defining figure of a generation that brought major honours back to the national team, while the squad begin preparations for life without their long-serving captain and No. 10.
