Lionel Messi to bid farewell to the national team with the Benin match

Argentine star footballer Lionel Messi is preparing to conclude his national team career spanning over 20 years. Announcing his retirement from the national team on August 31, the player will bid farewell to his fans with a friendly match against Benin on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Date and Venue of the Farewell Match Confirmed

The Argentine Football Association invited Lionel Messi to the friendly match to be played against Benin on October 6. The fixture will take place at River Plate's Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Messi announced in a message published on August 31 that he was bringing his national team career to a close, expressing that this decision had been a difficult one for him.

World Cup Squad Reunites

Messi's farewell night will feature more than just the match against Benin. Footballers from the Argentine squad that won the 2022 World Cup have also been invited to this special organization.

It was stated that the AFA made this decision following discussions with head coach Lionel Scaloni, and the squad that reached the trophy in Qatar will reunite.

National Team Successes Spanning Over Two Decades

The thirty-nine-year-old footballer's story with the Argentina National Team began in 2005. During this period, Messi experienced victories in the 2021 Copa America, 2022 Finalissima, Qatar 2022 World Cup, and 2024 Copa America.

Alongside the major trophies he won wearing the national team jersey, the star player holds a position as one of the most significant figures in the history of Argentine football.

Closing Ceremony at the Monumental Stadium

During the international match window, Argentina will play friendly matches against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin. Messi, however, has only been called up to the squad for the Benin fixture on October 6.

With this fixture at the Monumental Stadium, a historic era lasting over twenty years in Argentine football will officially come to a close.