Roma withdraw Dybala and Molina from Messi’s Argentina farewell

Roma have confirmed that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not attend Argentina’s farewell event for Lionel Messi, with the club citing the demands of an intercontinental journey and the team’s upcoming commitments.

Argentina will face Benin in an international friendly at the Monumental on 6 October. The match is being staged to honour Messi after he announced his retirement from international football alongside the players who helped him win the 2022 World Cup.

Neither Dybala nor Molina is included in Argentina’s squad for the current international break. Both had been invited to attend the ceremony and the match, but Roma said it had decided against releasing them because of the length of the trip and the short time available before the club’s official fixtures resume.

In a statement, the Italian club said: “Roma announces that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not attend the event being held in Argentina for the Argentina v Benin match on 6 October.

“The club understands the importance of this occasion for the two players, who have a close connection with Lionel Messi and played a key role in his World Cup triumph in 2022.

“Roma’s decision has been taken for sporting and logistical reasons, relating to the length of the intercontinental journey and the proximity of the players’ official commitments.

“Roma expresses its deep appreciation for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career, and wishes him and the Argentine Football Association a memorable evening.”

Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia previously said Messi had been invited to a farewell celebration in his honour.

“We invited Messi to attend a farewell ceremony worthy of him on 6 October here in Argentina,” Tapia said in media comments.

He added: “We are also inviting all the members of the squad that won the World Cup in Qatar, together with their families, to join him for a match that will be unforgettable for all the national team’s supporters.”

Roma will still have three players involved with Argentina during the international break. Leandro Paredes, Matias Soule and Santiago Castro are included in the squad after receiving call-ups.

Messi began his international career with Argentina in 2005 and represented the national team for more than 20 years. He has made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for his country.

The former captain led Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022. He also finished as a World Cup runner-up in 2014 and 2026, while winning the Copa America twice, in 2021 and 2024.