Lionel Messi bows out in a friendly match against Benin

Lionel Messi is set to play his 208th and final match in the Argentina jersey this Tuesday, October 6, 2026. According to RFI Sports, this friendly match against Benin, which will take place at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires in front of 85,000 spectators, is organized as a national tribute to the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner's career, which began 22 years ago.

The 39-year-old Argentine captain leaves behind an impressive statistical record with 125 goals and 65 assists for the national team. His journey was marked by the World Cup triumph in 2022, as well as victories in the Copa América in 2021 and 2024. This farewell match will also be an opportunity for defender Nicolas Otamendi to conclude his own international career.

For Benin, ranked 89th in the world by FIFA, this confrontation represents a prestigious opportunity. The Cheetahs' head coach, Gernot Rohr, expressed his enthusiasm for the event, describing the match as an honor for his team. The ceremony planned after the final whistle will celebrate the legacy of a player who succeeded in transforming the Albiceleste into a dominant nation on the world stage.

As Messi prepares to pass the torch to the new Argentine generation, embodied by talents like Franco Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni, he confided that he gave everything for his country. This final match at the Monumental closes a historic chapter in world football, after two decades marked by major sporting successes and resilience in the face of personal and professional challenges.

Our perspective

The presence of Benin during this global tribute highlights the importance of sporting exchanges between Africa and Latin America. While football is a universal language, it reminds African nations of the need to structure their institutions to allow their talents to shine sustainably at the top. The dignity of African sport relies on these confrontations that forge experience and the unity of peoples in the face of global icons.