Football superstar Lionel Messi is preparing for his final match with the Argentina national team in a farewell friendly against Benin. This match marks the beginning of a new era for the South American champions.
After more than two decades of service to his country, the 39-year-old athlete will permanently pass on the captain's armband, playing his last game in the Albiceleste jersey at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. His international farewell match will be attended by 85,000 spectators, as well as many teammates with whom he reached the pinnacle of football at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and representatives of Argentina's rising generation.
This friendly match symbolizes the passing of the torch from Messi, whose international legacy includes the World Cup title, two Copa América trophies, and the Finalissima. It also concludes his career as Argentina's record holder for matches played and top scorer, having netted 125 goals in 207 games, along with 68 assists.
Messi's farewell comes two and a half months after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the World Cup final in New Jersey, where he left with tears after a minor appearance. In August, announcing his international departure, Messi wrote: 'I gave everything; I have nothing left to give, and besides, great young players are emerging who deserve their chance.'
Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, but following the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago, he announced that he might retire sooner than expected.
In the farewell match against Benin, which ranks 93rd in the world, members of the 2022 Argentine championship squad, players who won the third star for the country, and their families will participate.
Veterans of the Doha triumph, such as Ángel Di María, who retired from the national team in 2024, will attend to observe the handover to the new generation tasked with continuing the golden age of the Albiceleste. Among the newcomers, such as Franco Mastantuono and Lionel Flores, some were not even born when 'La Pulga' debuted for Argentina in 2005, a team whose history was long dominated by Diego Maradona.
Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni stated: 'It will be an unforgettable day for everyone. Everyone wants to be present at this match, and now it is simply enjoyment.'
Argentina's new generation has already demonstrated its capabilities in the absence of the captain, although no one claims that replacing a man considered by many to be the greatest footballer in history will be an easy task. Scaloni noted: 'Collectively, we will try to fill the void left by Leo.'
Scaloni, who knew how to build the right supporting cast around Messi, will also bid farewell on Tuesday to 38-year-old vice-captain Nicolás Otamendi. Like Messi and Otamendi, midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovanni Lo Celso were called up exclusively for the match against Benin, raising the probability that they may no longer represent Argentina.
Among the players who are sure to participate, at least on the bench, are other veterans of the 2022 World Cup who will become Argentina's flagbearers after Messi: defender Cristian Romero, midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández, and forwards Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez.
Romero, the tenacious central defender, is ready to accept the captain's armband, which Messi first wore at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The next in the captaincy hierarchy are goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and Lautaro Martínez. They have already begun supporting Messi's successors, who showed their hunger for success in Argentina's first post-World Cup final match against Bolivia in Córdoba on Wednesday.
Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-0, with young talents Nico Paz and José Manuel López among the goalscorers. Following this victory, the team beat Burkina Faso 7-0 at the Monumental on Saturday, where Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni scored their first international goals.
As Argentina's future begins to take shape, one small but symbolically important question remains: who will inherit Messi's number 10 shirt? Scaloni stated: 'We will not give number 10 to anyone until Leo's match. After that, we will see.'
