Messi Arrives in Argentina Ahead of Final International Match
Lionel Messi has joined up with the Argentina squad at Ezeiza ahead of his farewell match against Benin, which will be his last game for his country.
The 39-year-old captain arrived on Sunday to start preparing for Tuesday's friendly at River Plate's Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, where 85,000 fans are expected. It will end a 21-year international career.
He leaves with a national record of 125 goals in 207 games, and honours that include the World Cup, two Copa America titles and the Finalissima.
Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia explained why the game was arranged.
"We made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andres Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves on October 6 here in Argentina."
Messi's first training session with the group ended with the usual squad barbecue on Sunday evening. The mood in camp is high after Lionel Scaloni's side beat Bolivia 4-0 and then thrashed Burkina Faso 7-0.
Giovani Lo Celso, Rodrigo De Paul and Nicolas Otamendi are set to play alongside Messi in his final game. Leandro Paredes will be at the stadium too, although he will watch from the stands because of a 10-match FIFA ban handed out after the 2026 World Cup final.
Two Qatar 2022 winners will be missing. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not make the trip after AS Roma stopped them from travelling.
Argentina will wear a special one-off kit for the night, with the Sun of May and laurel branches around the number 10.
After the game, Messi goes back to Inter Miami, where his contract runs until the end of the 2028 MLS season. Scaloni, meanwhile, will turn his attention to building the next generation of players for the next major tournament.
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