Lionel Messi’s international career is set for an emotional conclusion at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, with Argentina preparing a special farewell for its captain on October 6, 2026.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has confirmed that Messi will make his final appearance for the national team against Benin, just weeks after announcing his retirement from international football. The match will give Argentine supporters the opportunity to see the 39-year-old star wear the famous blue-and-white shirt one final time on home soil.
The farewell will also bring together members of the Argentina team that won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. The occasion is expected to celebrate not only Messi but also the group of players who shared one of the defining achievements of his international career.
Messi Set for Final Argentina Appearance
Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31, bringing an end to a remarkable national-team career that stretched across more than two decades.
In his farewell message, published by the AFA, Messi said the decision was painful but explained that he believed the time had come to step aside and allow younger players to take their opportunity. He also expressed his gratitude to his teammates, coaches, supporters and family for their support throughout his Argentina career.
Despite that announcement, the AFA invited Messi back for one final appearance.
AFA president Claudio Tapia confirmed that the organization wanted Messi to have a deserved farewell in Argentina, with the Monumental chosen as the setting for the occasion.
The October 6 fixture against Benin will therefore be more than a conventional international friendly. It will mark the closing chapter of Messi’s Argentina career.
2022 World Cup Champions Invited to the Farewell
The farewell will also feature a reunion of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning group.
Members of the squad that lifted the World Cup in Qatar have been invited to attend the celebration at the Monumental, providing an opportunity for Messi to share his final Argentina appearance with teammates from the campaign that delivered the country’s first World Cup title since 1986.
The 2022 triumph remains one of the most important chapters of Messi’s international career. Argentina defeated France on penalties in the final in Lusail after a dramatic 3-3 draw following extra time.
Messi scored twice in the final and converted Argentina’s first penalty during the shootout as the Albiceleste secured the trophy.
That victory also ended years of international disappointment for Messi and Argentina, following defeats in major finals earlier in his career.
Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso Also Join Messi
Messi will not be the only member of Argentina’s recent golden generation returning for the final match.
Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso have also been confirmed for the October 6 fixture against Benin. The AFA’s announcement specifically identifies the three players as being involved in the final friendly.
Their inclusion adds another connection to the team that helped Messi finally win major international silverware.
De Paul was an important part of Argentina’s midfield during the 2022 World Cup, while Lo Celso had been a significant member of Lionel Scaloni’s team during the qualification and build-up to the tournament before missing the World Cup through injury.
Monumental to Host Messi’s Final Argentina Match
The Estadio Monumental will provide the backdrop for Messi’s final appearance in Argentina colours.
The Buenos Aires stadium has hosted many major moments in Argentine football and will now become the setting for the conclusion of one of the country’s most celebrated international careers.
Argentina will face Benin on October 6 as part of a three-match home friendly schedule. Before the farewell, Scaloni’s side is scheduled to meet Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30 and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3.
The October 6 match will be the final fixture of the series and the one specifically designated for Messi’s farewell.
A Career That Changed Argentina’s Football History
Messi’s Argentina career began in 2005 and developed through several difficult international campaigns before eventually reaching unprecedented success.
He helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América, followed by the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup. His international career then continued through the 2024 Copa América and the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA described his decision to retire as the closing of the Argentina chapter after more than two decades representing the national team.
His relationship with Argentina’s supporters also evolved considerably throughout that period.
After several painful defeats in major finals, Messi eventually became the central figure in a period of sustained success for the national team. The 2022 World Cup triumph in particular transformed the final years of his international career.
What to Expect on October 6
The Argentina-Benin match will combine a normal international fixture with a celebration of Messi’s career.
Messi, De Paul and Lo Celso are confirmed to participate in the final match, while the 2022 World Cup-winning squad has been invited to attend the occasion.
For Argentina supporters, the significance will extend beyond the result of the friendly.
It will be the final time Messi represents Argentina at the Monumental, bringing the curtain down on an international career that produced World Cup glory, Copa América success and countless memorable moments.
After October 6, Messi’s Argentina career will officially move into history — but the images of the captain lifting the World Cup trophy in Qatar and celebrating with his teammates are likely to remain among the defining memories of Argentine football.
