Overview
- Lionel Messi will make his final Argentina appearance in a sold‑out friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental on Tuesday, October 6, in a ceremony organised with music, fireworks and tributes.
- Coach Lionel Scaloni has kept the iconic No.10 vacant until after the match and will hand the captain’s armband to Cristian Romero as the team starts a planned post‑Messi era.
- Younger players such as Franco Mastantuono, Gianluca Prestianni and Nico Paz have scored and impressed in recent friendlies, giving Scaloni tangible options to lead Argentina’s creative play after Messi.
- The AFA scheduled lower‑profile opponents for the three‑match home window for practical and financial reasons, a choice that drew some critique but allowed the association to stage a large farewell event.
- Messi leaves as Argentina’s record appearance‑maker and top scorer and remains under contract at Inter Miami through 2028, though he has signalled he may retire fully from club football sooner.