Prestianni reflects on sharing Argentina farewell night with Messi
Gianluca Prestianni described Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Benin at the Monumental as an emotional farewell night, despite remaining an unused substitute for the whole match. The Benfica winger said the scale of sharing an Argentina squad with Lionel Messi, the player he watched while growing up, struck him fully only after he had returned home.
Argentina farewell night
| Item | Detail | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Match | Argentina 3-0 Benin | Played at the Monumental |
| Prestianni | Unused substitute | Benfica winger, aged 20 |
| Nicolas Otamendi | Opening goal | Final appearance after 17 years internationally |
Prestianni said he experienced the occasion as much as a supporter as a member of the squad. Having followed Messi for Argentina and Barcelona, he said it was an honour to be present for the No. 10’s final match and to have even a short period alongside him at international level.
The 20-year-old approached Messi near the technical area but was conscious that the evening belonged to the captain. During their embrace, Prestianni said he thanked him for everything and told him how much he loved him.
The match also marked the end of Nicolas Otamendi’s Argentina career. The defender, another senior figure within the group, scored Argentina’s first goal in his final international after 17 years with the national team.
Prestianni had spoken to Otamendi before kick-off and told him that he hoped he would score. He was pleased that the defender was able to leave the side in the strongest possible manner, with a goal in a winning performance.
New responsibility for Argentina’s younger players
With Messi and Otamendi departing, Argentina move into a different phase under Lionel Scaloni. Prestianni said the younger members of the group do not view the situation as a burden, instead seeing it as a privilege to represent what he called the world’s most beautiful shirt.
He declined to nominate a successor for the vacant No. 10 shirt, insisting that the eventual decision rests with the national team and that the squad will support whoever is selected.
Scaloni must now build the next version of his side around emerging players, with Nico Paz and Agustin Giay among those likely to assume greater responsibility. Argentina’s coming international fixtures will test whether the squad can retain its consistency without two of the experienced leaders who shaped its recent era.
