Buenos Aires (GNP): Lionel Messi will end his Argentina career on Tuesday in a farewell friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental. The match marks the start of a new era for the South American champions. After more than two decades of service, the 39-year-old will make his final appearance in the Albiceleste jersey and hand over the captain’s armband for good.
He will not say goodbye alone. A crowd of 85,000 is expected, along with several teammates who reached the pinnacle of football with him at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Members of that squad and their families will attend, as will members of Argentina’s emerging generation. Angel Di Maria, who retired from international football in 2024, is among the veterans who will watch the passing of the torch.
The occasion carries the weight of a remarkable record. Messi’s international legacy includes a World Cup title, two Copa America crowns and the Finalissima. He leaves as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 games, as well as a record 68 assists.
His farewell follows a painful night in July, when Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain in New Jersey and Messi left the pitch in tears. In August, he announced his international retirement and explained that he had nothing left to give. He also said that great young players were coming up and deserved their chance.
That generation is already making its case. In Argentina’s first game since the final, the team beat Bolivia 4-0 in Cordoba on Wednesday, with Nico Paz and Jose Manuel Lopez among the scorers. On Saturday, Argentina routed Burkina Faso 7-0 at the Monumental. Franco Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni scored their first international goals in that match.
Coach Lionel Scaloni now has to plan for life without his captain. He said the squad will try to fill the void collectively, although nobody pretends that replacing a player many regard as the greatest in history will be straightforward. Scaloni is negotiating a contract extension after leaving his future unresolved following the defeat in July.
The leadership of the team is already taking shape. Centre-back Cristian Romero is set to inherit the captain’s armband, which Messi first wore at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and forward Lautaro Martinez are next in the captaincy hierarchy.
Romero will lead a core of 2022 veterans that includes midfielders Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernandez and forward Julian Alvarez, alongside Lautaro Martinez. They are certain to be involved, at least from the bench. Several of the newcomers, including Mastantuono and Leonel Flores, were not even born when Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005.
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Tuesday will also bring other goodbyes. Scaloni will say farewell to 38-year-old vice-captain Nicolas Otamendi. Midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso were called up only for the Benin match, which raises the possibility that neither will play for Argentina again.
One question will remain open until the final whistle. Scaloni has said that nobody will receive the number 10 shirt until Messi’s match has taken place. After that, he said, the team will see.
For Messi, the end of the international chapter does not necessarily mean the end of his playing days. He remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028. After the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago, he revealed that he may hang up his boots sooner than expected.
Messi said, “I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give.”
