Lionel Messi has arrived at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) training facility in Ezeiza to prepare for his final match with the Argentina national team, an international friendly against Benin scheduled for Tuesday at 20:00 local time at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, as reported by La Nación.
Arrival at Ezeiza and the Final Preparations
The 39-year-old captain returned to Argentina after spending time in his hometown of Rosario, accompanied by his wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, his mother, Celia, and his children. Upon his arrival at the predio in Ezeiza that bears his name, the official team channels welcomed him with the declaration that el rey está en la casa
(the king is in the house), marking the beginning of the end for a 22-year international career that includes titles at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, two Copa América tournaments, and the Finalissima.
According to Infobae, Messi joined the squad following his travel from Funes, stepping straight into a group training session under head coach Lionel Scaloni. The Sunday schedule involved a 40-minute recovery session in the gym for players who featured in the prior friendly against Burkina Faso, while the rest of the squad ran through speed and coordination drills on the pitch. Scaloni also ran a 45-minute formal training match in a reduced space to fine-tune the tactical setup ahead of Tuesday night’s fixture.
Asado Ritual and Squad Camaraderie in the Quinchos
To mark the final gathering before Messi’s farewell, the squad and coaching staff maintained the national team’s traditional asado ritual at the Ezeiza compound. Goalkeeper Emiliano Dibu
Martínez documented the preparations on social media, walking past a large grill overseen by cook Diego Iacovone and kitchen assistant Antonia Farías (Infobae).
Martínez joked with Iacovone about the menu, asking, ¿Hoy pollito nomás?
(Just chicken today, then?
), before panning across the grill to reveal cuts including ojo de bife, matambre de cerdo, sweetbreads, chorizo, and blood sausage. AFA president Claudio Chiqui
Tapia also participated in the cooking process, wearing two kitchen towels as oven mitts to turn a piece of meat slowly over the embers while Iacovone supervised. Tapia shared the footage on Instagram with the caption Todo para mis chicos
(Everything for my boys
).
The lighter mood continued away from the grill during the team’s downtime. Martínez discovered that a left-back had left his mobile phone behind in the gym, prompting the goalkeeper to record a video of himself dancing to background music (La Nación).
Messi Prepares for Final Match Against Benin
As Olé notes, the fixture brings an end to an era defined by high stakes, continental triumphs, and global glory. Over 207 appearances for the senior national team, Messi has contributed 125 goals and 68 assists. Senior squad members including Rodrigo De Paul, Giovani Lo Celso, and Nicolás Otamendi have reassembled in Ezeiza to take part in the farewell proceedings alongside the rest of Scaloni’s squad.
The match against Benin kicks off at 20:00 local time (UTC-3) on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires (TN). While match tickets are sold out, the Argentine Football Association has organized an official Fan Fest titled “Gracias, Leo” at the Campo de Deportes de la Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) in Ciudad Universitaria (AFA). Running from 12:00 to 00:00 local time, the event features live broadcasts of the match on giant screens, music performances by Kapanga and La T y La M, interactive games hosted by Sergio Goycochea, and displays of the World Cup, Copa América, and Finalissima trophies.
Timeline of the Farewell Schedule
- Sunday, October 5, 2026: Lionel Messi arrives at the Ezeiza training facility; afternoon training session followed by the team asado.
- Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (12:00 local time): Opening of the “Gracias, Leo” Fan Fest at Ciudad Universitaria (AFA).
- Tuesday, October 6, 2026 (20:00 local time): Kickoff of the international friendly between Argentina and Benin at the Estadio Monumental (TN).
