Bruno Lage’s former Benfica captain announces he won’t return to the pitch | OneFootball

The Argentina - Venezuela match was likely Nicolás Otamendi’s last game for the national team on Argentine soil. At the end of the match, which marked Messi’s farewell, the Benfica captain revealed that, like the global football star, he too will probably not wear his country’s shirt again.

“If there are no more official matches in Argentina, it was my last game too. I enjoyed it a lot. I’m happy because I wanted to finish this way. My family was here. Very happy,” said Nicolás Otamendi, who, at 38, is preparing to represent the national team at the 2026 World Cup.

Regarding Lionel Messi’s farewell, the Benfica captain did not hide his emotion: “Obviously, Leo [Messi] deserves everything. He is the best player in history, by a wide margin. It was necessary to finish this way. There were many children. Very happy that everyone could enjoy this moment.”

“It’s emotional to play on this field, with our fans. The qualifiers are tough, but we have a very good group, with players who handle the ball very well. Very happy,” concluded Nicolás Otamendi, who, despite his age, remains a key starter for both Benfica and Argentina.

This season, wearing only the Benfica shirt, Nicolás Otamendi – valued at 1 million euros – has played eight matches: four in the Champions League, three in Liga Portugal Betcic, and one in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. In the 720 minutes he spent on the pitch, the Argentine international performed at a very high level.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.