Lionel Messi set for final Argentina appearance against Benin
publishers 27articles 29first reported 5 Oct, 09:30 UTCdeveloping since 5 Oct · 15 editions
Lionel Messi is set to make his final appearance for Argentina on Tuesday, ending a 21-year international career in a farewell friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium.
More than 85,000 spectators are expected for the match, which will include tributes to the 39-year-old captain. The Argentine Football Association has also organized a fan festival for supporters without tickets, while Messi’s hometown of Rosario marked the occasion with a giant No. 10 shirt bearing the word “Gracias.”
Messi announced his international retirement on August 31, weeks after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. He participated in his last national-team training session Monday at the Argentine federation’s complex in Ezeiza.
The forward enters his final match as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 senior internationals, as well as a record 68 assists. He made his senior debut against Hungary in August 2005.
Messi won the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup with Argentina’s senior team. He also won the 2005 Under-20 World Cup and Olympic gold in 2008. He represented Argentina at six World Cups, reaching three finals.
Messi will continue playing at club level for Inter Miami, where he is under contract through 2028.
HOW THIS STORY WAS MADE
Written from 8 articles, 5 with the publisher's own text; 8 independent newsrooms once syndicated copies count as one; this version written 30 h after the record first saw the story; the editor kept it as written.
- Publishers
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- Source articles
- 29
- Given to the writer
- 8, 5 with the article's own text
- Independent newsrooms
- 8
- This version written
- 30 h after the record first saw the story
- Second model (editor)
- kept as written
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- passed
- Human review
- none
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