Lionel Messi arrives in Argentina for emotional final international appearance | OneFootball

Lionel Messi has returned to Argentina for an emotional farewell to the national team. According to Goal.com, his final international appearance will take place in Buenos Aires next week.

The 39-year-old arrived by private jet in Rosario on Friday morning with his family, touching down at Rosario's Islas Malvinas International Airport. He rested at his Funes home, then headed to the Ezeiza training complex for a single session before his swansong.

His homecoming came earlier than Lionel Scaloni had outlined before facing Bolivia. The head coach said Messi would arrive after the match on Saturday the third, though he could come and play that day, adding the plan was for a Sunday arrival.

Messi confirmed on Instagram a month ago that he will retire from international football, after recording his best individual goal return at a major summer tournament. To mark the occasion, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) have produced a bespoke kit with a vertical motif featuring the Sun of May and laurel branches around his number 10.

Argentina face Benin on Tuesday the sixth of October at the Estadio Monumental, a sell-out scheduled to start at 20:00 local time, one hour earlier to allow tributes and farewell ceremonies.

Once the emotion of the night subsides, the Inter Miami forward will return to Miami to finish the Major League Soccer campaign.

Source: Goal.com

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