Messi in Argentina squad for farewell friendly
September 16, 2026 01:32
Argentina have included Lionel Messi in their squad for a friendly against Benin on 6 October, a match the Argentine Football Association says is intended as Messi’s farewell to international football. The game will be played at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Messi announced his retirement from international duty in August after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final and following a period in which he said he had been considering his future after his father’s death. The Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia said the federation invited Messi “so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves.”
KEY CONTEXT
Messi, 39, captained Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and is the nation’s record appearance-maker and top scorer, with 125 goals in 207 caps. He currently plays for Inter Miami and has won the Ballon d’Or eight times. Argentina have also invited the members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad to the fixture; Tapia described the occasion as “unforgettable.”
In the wake of the World Cup, Argentina faced disciplinary measures from FIFA: they were ordered to play two home matches at 50% capacity (one of those matches was later suspended) for breaches including demonstrations at a sporting event, team misconduct and discriminatory chants. The sanction followed incidents such as several Argentina players displaying a banner asserting Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands after the semi-final victory over England.
WHY IT MATTERS
If Messi does take part, the Benin friendly would mark a formal farewell to a player who has defined Argentina’s international era for more than a decade. The occasion is being staged at the country’s largest stadium and includes the presence of the 2022 winners, underlining its ceremonial importance to Argentine football and supporters.
The lead-up fixtures against Bolivia (30 September, Córdoba) and Burkina Faso (3 October, Buenos Aires) are relevant to administrative matters too: staging those friendlies would mean Argentina’s reduced-capacity home-match sanction will have been served before the Benin game.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Whether Messi actually plays in the Benin friendly on 6 October—Tapia has invited him, but Messi previously announced his retirement.
- Confirmation of squad availability, notably the status of Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina, who face long suspensions. The source reports they are not expected to be available after being given 10-game and seven-match bans respectively for on-field clashes following the World Cup final.
- Final ticketing and capacity arrangements at the Estadio Monumental, given the earlier 50% capacity sanction and that one match of the sanction was suspended.
KEY FACTS
- Argentina have named Lionel Messi in their squad for a friendly vs Benin on 6 October at Estadio Monumental (capacity ~85,000).
- Messi announced his international retirement in August after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain and has said the decision “hurt him deeply,” adding he had “given it my all” and had “nothing left to give.”
- Messi: 39 years old, Inter Miami player, eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, 125 goals in 207 Argentina appearances.
- Argentina were ordered to play two home matches at 50% capacity (one match later suspended) for breaches of FIFA’s disciplinary code during the World Cup.
- Midfielders Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina were given suspensions of 10 and seven matches respectively and are not expected to be available.