Lionel Messi is set to play his final match with the Argentina national team on Tuesday, October 6, facing Benin in an international friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, as reported by MARCA. The fixture marks the conclusion of a 21-year international career that yielded a FIFA World Cup title and two Copa América trophies.
Final Squad Selection at the Estadio Monumental
Manager Lionel Scaloni has named a starting lineup anchored by the historic core of players who accompanied Messi through his final World Cup cycles. Emiliano Martínez will start in goal, protected by a defensive line featuring Cristian Romero and Nicolás Otamendi in central defense. Nicolás Tagliafico returns at left-back after recovering from a physical issue that sidelined him during the opening two fixtures of the international window, while Agustín Giay starts on the right side in the absence of the suspended Nahuel Molina and uncalled Gonzalo Montiel. Following the conclusion of the World Cup 2026, where Argentina finished as runners-up, manager Lionel Scaloni utilized matches against Bolivia and Burkina Faso to give minutes to every player called up in that initial squad for the start of the new cycle. The team will be refereed by Chilean official Fernando Véjar in this third and final friendly of the FIFA window. The opponent, Benin, has been managed by German coach Gernot Rohr since 2023, and began its qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1 to 1 draw against Burkina Faso and a 2 to 1 victory over Mauritania.
Midfield and Attack for the Farewell Match
The midfield features the return of Rodrigo De Paul alongside Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister. In attack, Messi takes the captain’s armband for his 208th appearance with the Albiceleste, joined in the forward line by Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez. Messi enters the fixture with 125 international goals, remaining the all-time leading scorer for the national team. Beyond his titles in the 2022 World Cup, 2021 and 2024 Copa América, and the 2022 Finalissima, Messi also reached the finals of the 2014 and 2026 World Cups as well as the 2007, 2015, and 2016 continental tournaments.
Broadcast Details and Global Viewing Options
Kickoff is scheduled for 20:00 local time in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, October 6, with live television and digital coverage provided by TyC Sports and Telefe, alongside streaming options on Flow, DGO, and Telecentro Play. Fans in the United States and other international territories can access the broadcast through authorized rights-holding platforms and digital applications including Mi Telefe.
Musical Acts Perform at Estadio Monumental
Gates at the Estadio Monumental opened at 16:00 local time ahead of an extensive entertainment lineup featuring performances by Román El Original, Amar Azul, Q’Lokura, Un Poco de Ruido, and Damas Gratis. Additional musical acts including Gaspar Benegas, La Sole, and Ulises Bueno are scheduled for the halftime and post-match intervals, while the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino announced further commemorative presentations.
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