Messi to play farewell match for Argentina
Lionel Messi will make his final scheduled appearance for Argentina on October 6 at River Plate's Estadio Monumental after announcing international retirement on August 31 following the 2026 World Cup final loss to Spain. The Argentine Football Association invited him back and FIFA confirmed the Benin friendly as his farewell; the AFA also confirmed Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso will participate on October 6. Argentina's September–October friendlies include Bolivia on September 30 and Burkina Faso on October 3 before the Monumental farewell, which formally ends Messi's more than two-decade international career and begins Argentina's transition without him.
Messi will play a final Argentina match against Benin on October 6.
Context
Messi announced his retirement after the 2026 World Cup final. The AFA invited him back and FIFA confirmed the Benin farewell on October 6. Argentina will play other friendlies before the farewell and then move forward without Messi.
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