Messi to play one last Argentina match on six October | OneFootball

Messi will play one final game for Argentina, with a farewell friendly against Benin in Argentina, the federation announced in a video message from president Claudio Tapia.

The news follows his decision a few weeks ago to step away from the national team after more than 20 years. The 2022 world champion and two-time Copa América winner had said the final against Spain at last summer’s World Cup was his last as captain.

Tapia said that after talks with head coach Lionel Scaloni they invited Messi to have the send-off they felt he deserved in Argentina. After Messi accepted, all of the Qatar 2022 world champions and their families were invited to accompany him.

The AFA squad list published yesterday includes Julián Álvarez, De Paul, Lautaro and ‘Dibu’ Martínez, along with the return of Franco Mastantuono.

Scaloni’s side will face Bolivia on 30 September, Burkina Faso on three October and Benin on six October, when Messi is due to bid farewell to the national team.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”