Lionel Messi will not play in Argentina’s international friendly against Burkina Faso on Saturday at the Estadio Monumental de Núñez in Buenos Aires, as coaching staff and federation officials hold the forward out for a carefully planned retirement tribute. mediotiempo reported that the Inter Miami star’s absence from both the starting lineup and the substitutes’ bench is a deliberate measure designed to reserve the captain exclusively for a final farewell appearance against Benin on Tuesday, October 6.
Why Lionel Messi Misses the Burkina Faso Match
The decision to leave Messi out of the squad against Burkina Faso stems from a structured retirement schedule mapped out by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino (AFA), according to Eldestapeweb. After announcing his international retirement on August 31, following the World Cup final defeat against Spain, Messi agreed to make his final bow in front of a home crowd at El Monumental rather than featuring in every fixture of the October FIFA window. Messi arrived in Argentina on Friday and is fully fit, but the technical staff chose to deploy him solely in the third and final match of the series.
How Argentina Handled the Opening Fixtures Without Their Captain
Scaloni used the opening matches of this international window to evaluate younger alternatives and squad depth in the post-World Cup transition. On Wednesday, September 30, Argentina opened the window with a 4-0 victory against Bolivia in Córdoba, a match where Messi also did not feature on the bench. In that encounter, Nico Paz delivered a standout performance that drew attention as a potential successor to the iconic number 10 shirt, as detailed by mediotiempo. Eldestapeweb noted that other veteran mainstays, including Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, were likewise called up exclusively for the final tribute match, while Nicolás Otamendi was rested for the opening fixtures to let younger options gain valuable minutes.
Travel Delays Compound Burkina Faso Fixture Logistics
The visiting Burkina Faso squad faced severe travel hurdles prior to Saturday’s kickoff. According to mediotiempo, flight complications delayed the African side’s arrival in Argentina until Saturday itself, mere hours before the scheduled start of the match at El Monumental. Despite the compressed timeline and travel fatigue, the fixture would proceed as originally programmed.
What to Expect at the Farewell Match Against Benin
The definitive end of Messi’s international career will take place on Tuesday, October 6, at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Kickoff is scheduled for 17:00 local time in Mexico City, corresponding to an evening kickoff in Argentina where a 100% stadium capacity is expected. Eldestapeweb reported that the AFA has prepared a special commemorative jersey for Messi to wear during the fixture and extended invitations to members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families to honor the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, who departs the Albiceleste following triumphs at the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments.
Related reading
