Lionel Messi has been called up for Argentina’s friendly match against Benin on October 6, which will be his final appearance for the national team.
The 39 year old had announced his retirement from international football, after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Messi said that it was a decision he took with a heavy heart, but he had given everything to the national team.
The News Chronicle reports that Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia had confirmed that Messi was invited to receive the farewell he deserved at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
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Messi who currently plays for Inter Miami, still holds the record for the most goals in Argentina’s record books as well as the most caps, with 125 goals in 207 appearances, while leading the country to World Cup glory in 2022.
Argentina will also face Bolivia on September 30 and Burkina Faso on October 3 before the Benin fixture.
Members of the 2022 World Cup winning squad of Argentina have also been invited in to the occasion, which Tapia described as an unforgettable celebration.
But Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina are expected to miss out on the upcoming fixtures as they are serving suspensions from the World Cup final.
