Argentina Football Association (AFA) President Claudio Tapia says Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina’s squad for the friendly against Benin to give the national team captain the farewell he deserves.
“We made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andres Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves on 6 October here in Argentina,” Tapia said.
Messi announced his retirement from international football after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Argentina finished runners-up following a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final.
Argentina will host Benin on October 6, with Messi named in the squad for what is expected to be his farewell appearance on home soil.
The 39-year-old retires as Argentina’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 appearances. He played in three World Cup finals and helped Argentina win the 2022 tournament.
