The last night at the Monumental: Messi's farewell
According to Sports.
Context
Lionel Messi, with 208 appearances for the Argentine national team, is widely considered the best player of his generation. His farewell at Monumental, against Benin, symbolizes not only the end of his international career, but also a moment of reflection on the impact he had on Argentine and world football. The presence of Serie A figures in the stands highlights the importance of this event, which will be a milestone in the history of football.
Why this matters
Messi's farewell to the Argentine national team at the Monumental Stadium is a historic moment that marks the end of an era in football. With his departure, Argentina faces a new chapter, especially with the 2026 World Cup approaching, where the team will have to restructure without its biggest star. This game against Benin is not only a tribute to Messi, but also an opportunity for fans to celebrate his legendary career.
Main conclusions
- The last night at the Monumental: Messi's farewell.
- Messi says goodbye to the Albiceleste at the Monumental, against Benin, on October 6, 2026.
- One Last Night at the Monumental: Messi’s Argentina Farewell vs. Benin With Serie A Stars In Attendance.
The night of farewell arrived. Lionel Messi, the best footballer of his generation and, for many, of all time, will wear Albiceleste's number 10 jersey for the last time on October 6, 2026. The Argentine captain's international farewell will take place at the Monumental Stadium, in Buenos Aires, against Benin, in a private match that will have a full house: all tickets for the approximately 85,000 seats sold out in a few hours.
The game with Benin is one of three matches scheduled for this window: first, Argentina will face Bolivia, in Córdoba, on September 30th, and then with Burkina Faso, on October 3rd. For many fans, Messi's final appearance would have been left behind, after the defeat in the 2026 World Cup final, at the MetLife Stadium (New York/New Jersey), against Spain. Ferran Torres decided in extra time, in the 106th minute, a match in which Lionel Scaloni's team had just two shots (0.2 xG), a particularly painful outcome that led many to believe that Messi's story with the national team ended there.
At the end of August, two days after the final, the star addressed his fans on social media to announce his international withdrawal, giving a speech of sorrow and gratitude and concluding with the meaning “Thank you, God, for making me Argentine”. The decision, however, had a happy epilogue: on the initiative of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Messi will return to the Monumental for a farewell at home. “We decided to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andrés Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves, on October 6th, here in Argentina”, stated the president of the AFA, Claudio Tapia.
For Scaloni, the match against Benin is also an opportunity to prepare the transition to the post-Messi era. The selector pre-called 35 players and reduced the list to 28 names for these three individuals: Emiliano Martínez, Gerónimo Rulli, Juan Musso, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Juan Foyth, Nicolás Tagliafico, Facundo Medina, Agustín Giay, Román Vega, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso, Nicolás Paz, Franco Mastantuono, Matías Soulé, Valentín Barco, Nicolás González, Gianluca Prestianni, Giuliano Simeone, José Manuel López, Santiago Castro, Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez and Lionel Messi. Lautaro, Álvarez, Lisandro and Enzo are expected to form the backbone of the team in the new cycle, while youngsters Nicolás Paz and Franco Mastantuono carry part of the creative responsibility for the future.
The night will have a gala feel. adidas has prepared a unique commemorative jersey, inspired by the Argentine flag, with details in gold, the Sun of May on the front and back, and a distinctive mark with the captain's “M”, in addition to the 10 and the name also in gold, to match white and gold boots. Messi himself had already left the teaser: "One last game. A shirt for life."
The tribute takes place on the biggest stage in the country, home of River Plate, and not in Rosario, the striker's hometown, underlining the national nature of the tribute. Tickets ranged from 59 to 317 dollars and the 85,018 tickets available flew in less than two hours, with the duel becoming a search trend for days in South America.
On the other side, Benin will also experience a special night. Coach Gernot Rohr, who in 2018 coached Nigeria, which was defeated (2-1) by Argentina in the World Cup, has kept a Messi shirt ever since and will finally see the ideal opportunity to get it signed, something he was unable to do in Russia.
Among the expected presence in the stands are figures from world football and Serie A, on a night that will also have former teammates such as Germán Pezzella, Ángel Di María and Guido Rodríguez watching. Paulo Dybala (Roma) and Nahuel Molina are unlikely to be present.
Messi's numbers with the national team are impressive: 208 caps (including the game against Benin), 125 goals and 68 assists. He is the most international and the best scorer in Argentina's history. In World Cups, he has 34 games, 21 goals and 12 assists – monumental records that help frame a golden cycle that included the Copa América 2021 and a new continental title in 2024, in addition to the unforgettable 2022 World Cup. Now, with the curtain closing on the Monumental, Argentina begins the process of moving forward, but Messi's last dance, in front of his people, promises a night for eternity.
What happens next
After the game against Benin, Argentina will face Bolivia and Burkina Faso, which will be crucial in defining the team that will compete in the 2026 World Cup. Messi's farewell could influence the team's morale and the way in which younger players prepare to take on leadership roles. The AFA should also focus on the transition to the new generation, ensuring that Albiceleste maintains competitiveness on the international stage.
Frequently asked questions
How important is the game between Argentina and Benin?
The game is Lionel Messi's farewell to the Argentine national team, where he will wear the number 10 shirt for the last time.
When will the game between Argentina and Benin take place?
The game will take place on October 6, 2026.
What are Argentina's previous and subsequent commitments in this window?
Before
game with Benin, Argentina face Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30th, and then play Burkina Faso on October 3rd.
Will Messi be available for the game against Benin?
Yes, Messi will be present for his international farewell in the game against Benin.
What was Argentina's recent performance at the 2026 World Cup?
Argentina lost in the 2026 World Cup final to Spain, which was a painful outcome for the team.