Benin, the small African nation ready to share the stage with Messi in his Argentina farewell

Benin are about to take centre stage in a night their football history will never forget. The small west African nation, located next to Nigeria and used to life away from the spotlight, visits Argentina in Buenos Aires on Tuesday for what will be Lionel Messi's final international match. For the Cheetahs, the fixture is a platform to show their growth and test themselves against the world champions.

• Benin face Argentina in the friendly that marks Lionel Messi's international farewell.
• Captain Steve Mounie travelled to Buenos Aires despite injury to support the squad.
• Argentina arrive after a 7-0 win over Burkina Faso in their last warm-up match.
• The shirt Messi wears could become one of the most valuable in football history.
• The match takes place at a sold-out Estadio Monumental.

A national team used to living in the shadows

Benin share a border with Nigeria and, in football terms, have always lived in the shadow of their powerful neighbours. While the Super Eagles boast World Cup appearances and stars in Europe's top leagues, the Cheetahs have built their own path with less attention and plenty of conviction. This match in Buenos Aires offers an unprecedented stage: facing the world champions in a full stadium with a global audience tuned in for Messi's goodbye.

Steve Mounie, the captain who refused to miss it

The Augsburg striker, known to Huddersfield Town fans from his spell between 2017 and 2020, is one of Benin's most recognisable figures. He has been a regular with the national side for more than a decade, but has never played for his country outside Africa. Injury will keep him off the pitch, yet he decided to make the trip to experience the occasion from inside the stadium.

I cannot play. I just came to join the team, to support the team. Football is my passion. I would prefer to be on the bench, but if they tell me that I need to be in the stand, I will be in the stand. There is no problem, but I want to see the game from a pitch view.

Mounie admitted the news of Messi's farewell came as a surprise and raised the event to another level. For Benin it is a double opportunity: to compete against the best national team on the planet and to showcase a group built on youth, technical quality and collective discipline.

A modest squad with competitive spirit

The Beninese squad is made up of players earning their living in leagues such as Finland's top flight, Switzerland's second tier and the South African Premiership. They do not intimidate on paper, but the team define themselves through high pressing, courage on the ball and a defensive solidarity that makes them hard to break down. Mounie describes the group as a family, an identity he believes they share with Argentina and with Messi's paternal leadership.

The most wanted shirt on the pitch

Argentina will wear a specially designed kit for the occasion, and the shirt Messi uses has captured the attention of collectors worldwide. Doug Bierton, founder of Classic Football Shirts, places it among the most coveted jerseys in football history, comparable to Diego Maradona's shirt from the 'Hand of God' match against England at the 1986 World Cup, which sold for £7.1 million at auction in May 2022.

The Beninese players will not be the only ones dreaming of keeping it. Teammates such as Rodrigo De Paul, the kit man or any member of Argentina's staff could ask for the swap. Bierton says he will watch the match with a single goal in mind: finding out who Messi decides to swap shirts with.

What Benin have to gain at the Monumental

The friendly carries no competitive weight, but its symbolic value is enormous. For the players selected it is an exceptional shop window to boost their careers and raise the profile of Beninese football. Mounie sums it up as a chance to prove his national team deserve respect beyond the African continent.

Argentina arrive in form after thrashing Burkina Faso

Argentina prepared for the fixture with a convincing 7-0 win over Burkina Faso, another west African side. Many expect a similar scoreline tonight, although it is unlikely Messi will complete the full 90 minutes. The most probable scenario is that the Argentine captain is substituted in the second half with the game wrapped up, giving the sold-out Monumental crowd the chance to bid farewell to the greatest star in their sporting history.