Benin head to Buenos Aires for what will be Lionel Messi's final Argentina game
October 6, 2026 10:30
Benin will face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday (Wednesday 00:00 BST) in what has been billed as Lionel Messi's final international match. Argentina have produced a special kit for the occasion and the shirt worn by Messi has been flagged as likely to become highly valuable.
KEY CONTEXT
The Benin squad contains players who compete in a range of leagues, including Finland, Switzerland's second tier and the South African Premiership. Forward Steve Mounie, who plays for Bundesliga side FC Augsburg and previously played for Huddersfield Town between 2017 and 2020, is part of the travelling party despite being ruled out through injury.
“When the coach called me and told me about this game. We didn't know it was going to be the last game of Leo Messi,” Mounie told BBC Sport. He said attending was important to him personally and that he travelled to join and support the team even though he cannot play.
Argentina warmed up for the fixture with a 7-0 win over Burkina Faso. Many expect Argentina to dominate and it is considered unlikely Messi will play the full 90 minutes; a likely scenario reported is that he could be substituted in the second half once Argentina hold a comfortable lead, allowing a home farewell at a sold-out Estadio Monumental.
WHY IT MATTERS
Beyond the competitive element, the match carries historical and commercial weight. Doug Bierton, founder of Classic Football Shirts, said obtaining a match-worn Messi shirt is “incredibly tough” and described the last match-worn jersey as a collector’s dream, placing it in the same rare category as Diego Maradona's 1986 World Cup shirt, which sold at auction for £7.1m in May 2022.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The friendly in Buenos Aires will provide Benin players an opportunity to test themselves against Argentina on a global stage and mark what has been presented as a farewell for Messi. Exact playing time for Messi has not been confirmed.