Messi's Argentina farewell set for Tuesday 6 against Benin at El Monumental

Lionel Messi will wear the Argentina shirt one last time in an official tribute match. The Albiceleste captain, who announced his retirement from international football on August 31 with a deeply emotional letter, will have his final appearance on Tuesday 6 against Benin at El Monumental. It is the farewell that Argentine football owed to the player many regard as the greatest of all time, and it will close his international story with the warmth of his own fans.

• Messi will play his last game for Argentina on Tuesday 6 against Benin.
• The match will take place at El Monumental as the final friendly of the international break.
• Claudio Tapia confirmed that all the Qatar 2022 World Cup winners will join their captain along with their families.
• Argentina will face Bolivia and Burkina Faso earlier in this window.
• The squad includes 28 players, with Juan Foyth and Franco Mastantuono returning.

Messi's final tango at El Monumental

When Messi announced his international retirement in August, the news came with a bitter feeling because it followed a defeat in the World Cup final. Now he gets a second chance to leave a different final image: a packed stadium, his longtime teammates and a win on the pitch. El Monumental will host the last tango of the number 10 in a game against Benin that goes far beyond the sporting side.

We have made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the emblem of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andrés Messi, so he can have the farewell he truly deserves.

Claudio Tapia and the tribute from the Qatar 2022 champions

The AFA president explained that the tribute will carry special emotional weight, since every world champion from Qatar 2022 will be present along with their families. The squad will bring together the heroes of that final and turn the night into a generational reunion. It will be an unforgettable match for Argentina fans, who will be able to say goodbye to their legend at home.

Argentina's three friendlies during this break

Argentina will use the international window to play three matches before Messi's definitive farewell. First they will face Bolivia and then Burkina Faso, two games that will help the team build rhythm and fine-tune details. The third and final match, against Benin, will be remembered as the stage for the captain's goodbye.

The 28-man squad and the notable returns

The squad announced after the tribute news includes 28 players. Among the highlights are the returns of Juan Foyth and Franco Mastantuono, two names back in the coach's plans. With Messi leading the group, the list combines the World Cup-winning core with younger talent for a match that will go down in Argentine football history.