Argentina open camp for friendlies as Lionel Messi readies farewell | OneFootball

The 2026 world runners-up opened camp on Tuesday morning with a closed session at Predio Lionel Andrés Messi, beginning preparations for friendlies in the FIFA window that will culminate in Lionel Messi’s farewell to the national team.

According to SuperDepor.com, head coach Lionel Scaloni worked with a group that included world champions Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Cristian Cuti Romero and Lisandro Martínez.

AFA president Claudio Chiqui Tapia attended the workout and was warmly greeted by Scaloni and the players on his birthday. The session was primarily regenerative and featured four first-time call-ups: Tobías Andrada of River, Leonel Flores of Boca, Valentín Gómez of Real Betis and Román Vega of Zenit Saint Petersburg.

Messi will link up for the Benin match on Tuesday six October at the Monumental, his farewell appearance for Argentina after announcing his international retirement on 31 August. Nicolás Otamendi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso will also join for the final fixture.

The team will train at 10.00 on Wednesday 23 September, 10.30 on Thursday 24 with the last 15 minutes open to annually accredited AFA media, then 10.00 on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 behind closed doors. On Monday 28 they work at 16.00 with the first 30 minutes open, and on Tuesday 29 Scaloni speaks at 14.15 before a 15.30 session with the first 15 minutes open.

The fixtures are Argentina v Bolivia on 30 September at the Kempes in Córdoba, then Burkina Faso on three October at the Monumental.

Source: SuperDepor.com

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