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Messi plays final Argentina match on 6 October
Lionel Messi will make one final Argentina appearance against Benin after announcing his international retirement.
What happened
Argentina’s football federation confirmed Messi’s inclusion for a farewell friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires’s Monumental Stadium. The match follows his announcement that he was retiring from the national team. Coach Lionel Scaloni selected him for the international window, but Messi will not play Argentina’s other scheduled friendlies.
Numbers
- 6 Octoberfarewell match against Benin — At Buenos Aires’s Monumental Stadium
- 3 friendliesArgentina’s upcoming international-window matches — Messi is due only for Benin
Questions
- Why is the match being arranged?
- The federation chose an official home friendly after his retirement announcement, allowing Messi to be eligible for selection rather than attend only ceremonially.
- Which opponents come before Benin?
- Argentina first face Bolivia in Córdoba, then Burkina Faso at the Monumental Stadium, before the Benin farewell fixture.
- How broad will the event be?
- Former World Cup-winning squad members not selected for this window, plus their families, have received invitations to attend the event.
- Does retirement end Messi’s club career?
- Messi remains with Inter Miami, so the retirement applies to Argentina duty rather than ending his club career in the United States.
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The catch
Coverage does not confirm whether Messi will start, how long he will play, or the event’s full programme.