Messi to make farewell Argentina appearance in October

Lionel Messi will make his farewell appearance for Argentina in a home friendly next month, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) said on Tuesday.

Lionel Messi of Argentina greets spectators after the group J match between Argentina and Austria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup at Dallas Stadium in Dallas, the United States, June 22, 2026. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

The 39-year-old will bow out against Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6.

"We invited the best player in the world to play, the icon of our national team, our captain Lionel Andres Messi, to have a deserved farewell ... here in Argentina," AFA President Claudio Tapia said on social media.

Messi announced his retirement from international football last month, six weeks after Argentina's extra-time loss to Spain in the World Cup final.

Argentina will also play Bolivia in Cordoba and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires during the next FIFA international window, which runs from September 21 to October 6.

As expected, the squad includes goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, defender Cristian Romero, midfielders Enzo Fernandez and Rodrigo De Paul, and strikers Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez.

The absentees include Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada, who are serving suspensions for their part in a melee after the World Cup final.