It's the ending that Argentine fans have been waiting for—and dreading. Lionel Messi, who announced his retirement from international football last month after a 21-year career with the national team, will pull on the albiceleste jersey one final time. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed that the 39-year-old captain has accepted an invitation to play a farewell match on October 6 against Benin at a stadium in Buenos Aires.
Coach Lionel Scaloni included Messi in his 28-man squad for a series of home friendlies, giving domestic supporters the chance to honor the player who led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar 2022 and multiple Copa América titles. The decision comes after some fans had criticized the AFA's initial farewell plans, arguing that the tribute should feel more personal and less commercial.
A final chapter in Buenos Aires
Argentina will host three friendlies in the coming weeks: against Bolivia and Burkina Faso in Córdoba, and then the main event—Benin in Buenos Aires on October 6. While Messi's participation in the earlier matches is still being evaluated by the technical staff, his presence for the farewell game is confirmed. The AFA has framed the occasion as a celebration of his legacy, but also as a bridge to the future.
Messi's international career began in 2005 with a friendly against Hungary. Over two decades, he amassed 207 caps and became the team's all-time leading scorer. His final appearance in an official Argentina shirt will be a moment of collective gratitude for a generation that grew up watching him redefine what's possible on a football pitch.
Scaloni's new generation
The squad list for this window is notable not just for Messi's return, but for the names that are missing. Veterans like Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso have been left out, making room for a wave of younger players. Nico Paz, Franco Mastantuono, and Matías Soulé are the new attacking faces, while Román Vega, Agustín Giay, Gianluca Prestianni, and Santiago Castro add depth in defense and up front.
This is clearly the start of a transition. With regulars like Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina suspended, the upcoming friendlies offer a chance for these emerging talents to train and play alongside established stars—and to learn from Messi in his final days with the squad. It's a passing of the torch, even if the flame is still very much lit.
For those who've followed Messi's club career, his move to Inter Miami has already brought him closer to the Americas. His Inter Miami side recently faced Cruz Azul in the Campeones Cup, a match that carried regional pride. And his post-playing ambitions are already taking shape—his reported move to buy CD Eldense hints at a future in club ownership.
But for now, all eyes are on Buenos Aires. The October 6 match will be more than a friendly; it will be a farewell to an era. As Scaloni builds toward the next World Cup cycle, Messi's last dance offers both closure and inspiration. Gracias, Leo—for everything.
