Lionel Messi is set to play his final match for the Argentina national team on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires against Benin, marking the conclusion of a 21-year international career that spans 207 caps and four trophies, as reported by local media coverage. Ahead of the fixture, public tributes have highlighted the milestone, including a widely circulated social media response from Antonela Roccuzzo to a video tribute posted by the Argentine Football Association.
Antonela Roccuzzo Responds to Association Tribute
On her Instagram account, Antonela Roccuzzo shared a video posted by the Argentine Football Association featuring a compilation of Messi’s career highlights accompanied by a voiceover narrative, responding to the post with three crying face emojis. The narrative in the tribute reflected on Messi’s impact beyond his statistics:
“Konon ceritanya, seorang anak yang lahir di Rosario datang untuk mengubah hidup kita. Bukan hanya karena 125 gol, atau karena keajaiban tendangan-tendangan bebas itu. Ada sesuatu yang lebih baik, sesuatu yang tak pernah didokumentasikan oleh surat kabar mana pun. Lebih baik dari gelar Copa America, bahkan lebih baik dari Piala Dunia di Qatar. Leo, tahukah kamu mengapa kamu yang terbaik di dunia? Karena selama 22 tahun ini kamu membuat kami menjadi lebih baik. Menjadi ayah yang lebih baik, anak yang lebih baik, dan pasangan hidup yang lebih baik. Dan tanpa kamu sadari, saat kami meneriakkan gol-golmu, dan mengulang-ulang bahwa kamu yang terbaik sepanjang masa, kamu juga membuat kami lebih baik. Dan itu sendiri adalah gelar lain.”
Benin Prepares for Estadio Monumental Clash
Benin enters the fixture as the final opponent of Messi’s international career. Tijani Mohamed, a defender for The Cheetahs, stated in interviews with Argentine television that the squad intends to appreciate the occasion rather than engage in traditional defensive tactics against the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. “Anda tidak perlu mengawal Messi. Kami hanya akan menikmati pertandingan ini. Saya akan memandangnya seperti ini, ‘Messi, kamu adalah Tuhan,'” Mohamed told Argentine television. Mohamed also noted that he supported Argentina during the 2026 FIFA World Cup and expressed admiration for the forward.
Two Decades of Albiceleste History
Messi announced his retirement from international football via an open letter on Instagram on Aug. 31, 2026, describing the choice as one of the hardest of his career. His journey with the senior national team began on Aug. 17, 2005, in a friendly against Hungary where he received a red card less than a minute after entering as a substitute. Over 21 years, he accumulated 207 appearances, 125 goals, and 68 assists for the Albiceleste, securing the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa America.
Messi Sets Tournament Records Before Final Appearance
Across six different FIFA World Cup tournaments from 2006 to 2026, Messi established several tournament and national records. He recorded 34 appearances, 23 wins, 12 assists, and 21 goals in World Cup play, alongside two Golden Ball awards in 2014 and 2022. Having been rested for Argentina’s previous two fixtures, the Inter Miami forward is confirmed to take the field one final time at Estadio Monumental.
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