Lionel Messi to play final match for Argentina against Benin at Estadio Monumental

The farewell match in Buenos Aires

Lionel Messi will play his final match for the Argentina national team on the night of 6 October 2026 in a friendly against Benin at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The match kicks off at 01:00 Italian time on 7 October, with an expected attendance of 85,000 spectators. All general admission tickets sold out within four minutes of release, leaving thousands in online waiting queues for more than an hour. For supporters unable to secure entry, local organizers arranged a dedicated fan zone at Ciudad Universitaria featuring giant video screens, food stalls, and inflatable installations illustrating Messi's career. Messi originally considered ending his international career directly after the 2026 World Cup final in New York, but manager Lionel Scaloni, his family, and teammates persuaded him to accept a home farewell fixture.

Messi announced his decision on social media following that tournament.

I want to inform you that I am retiring from the national team.

Career totals and records

The 39-year-old captain enters his final national team appearance with 207 caps, 125 goals, and 68 assists for the Albiceleste. Over more than two decades with Argentina, he won the 2022 World Cup, two Copa América titles, and the Finalissima, alongside runners-up finishes at the 2014 and 2026 World Cup tournaments. His career trophy count stands at 48 titles across club and country, representing the highest total for any player in international football history. In national team statistics, his tally exceeds the 91 appearances and 34 goals recorded by Diego Maradona, whose own Albiceleste farewell took place at La Bombonera on 10 November 2001.

Federation logistics and stadium arrangements

The meeting with Benin concludes a three-match international window in which Argentina secured a 4-0 win against Bolivia and a 7-0 victory against Burkina Faso. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) selected Benin under a cost-containment schedule, with the African squad agreeing to travel to South America without a match fee. Financial tensions surfaced before the fixture when River Plate rejected an AFA request to waive the stadium rental fee for Estadio Monumental, despite ticket receipts expected to generate millions of dollars. The matchday program includes celebratory banners, commemorative video screenings, and a post-match address where Messi will speak directly to the crowd using an on-field microphone.

Squad succession and club commitments

Messi will remain active at club level with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where his contract alongside co-owners Jorge Mas and David Beckham runs until 2028. His decision to step away from international football followed both the final defeat against Spain and the death of his father Jorge two months ago. Manager Lionel Scaloni now faces the decision of reallocating the number 10 shirt among younger squad members. Potential successors include Nico Paz, who wore the number 10 at age 18 in September 2025 and wore number 18 during the 2026 World Cup, alongside Franco Mastantuono, after physical problems sidelined midfielder Thiago Almada.