Overview
- Messi will make his last Argentina appearance on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at a sold‑out Estadio Monumental and will wear a bespoke Adidas jersey created for the occasion.
- The Argentine Football Association has invited every member of the 2022 World Cup squad and their families and has scheduled pre‑ and post‑match tributes to honour Messi’s international career.
- Coach Lionel Scaloni is using the friendly window to fast‑track a transition by testing young players after convincing wins in recent matches and is in advanced talks over a contract extension.
- Multiple outlets report Benin was selected as the opponent partly for practical and financial reasons because lower‑ranked teams command smaller match fees, allowing the AFA to retain more revenue.
- Messi ends his Argentina career as the team’s record appearance‑maker and top scorer with roughly 125 goals in about 207–208 caps and about 68 assists, a chapter closed after his post‑World Cup retirement announcement and family bereavement.