Benin goalkeeper refuses to let Lionel Messi score in Argentina farewell

Marcel Dandjinou says he will try to save any penalty Lionel Messi takes when Argentina face Benin in the forward’s final international appearance.

The two teams will meet in a friendly at the Monumental Stadium early on Wednesday, in what is expected to be Messi’s last match for Argentina.

Asked by Spanish newspaper Marca whether he would allow Messi to score, Benin goalkeeper Dandjinou said: “No, no. I am a goalkeeper and my job is to save shots. Even if it were the last minute and there was a penalty, and Messi took it, I would try to save it.”

Dandjinou acknowledged the significance of the occasion but insisted Benin would not simply be part of a farewell celebration.

“Playing in Messi’s last international match? This is not just an ordinary game. It is an event that happens only once in a professional career. It is a special match,” he said.

“But, and this is important, although we are here because of Argentina and Messi, we must not forget that we also represent our country. We are here to defend the colours of Benin.”

He added: “It is football: 11 players against 11. Maybe we win, maybe we draw, or maybe they win; that is football. We are not here to tour Argentina, but to play and compete. It will be a great day in our lives.”

Dandjinou described Messi as “one of the kings of football” and said the opportunity to face him had once seemed impossible.

“For me, Leo is a legend; a true legend,” he said. “We grew up watching him play and he is one of our favourite players. The chance to play against him now, on the same pitch, is incredible. I never imagined it would happen, but it will happen on Tuesday.”

The goalkeeper added: “It is very simple: it is football. Yes, we are here to celebrate Messi, but nobody has asked us to give him a goal. And knowing Messi, you do not need to give him anything anyway; if he wants to score, he will do everything he can to achieve it.”

Messi announced his international retirement days ago after an unforgettable career with Argentina. He also unveiled the shirt he will wear in his farewell match in collaboration with German sportswear company Adidas, writing on Instagram: “The last match… a shirt for life.”

The Argentine Football Association intends to honour Messi in front of home supporters after his long career with the national team.

“We invited Messi to a worthy farewell ceremony on 7 October here in Argentina,” association president Claudio Tapia said.

“We have also invited all the players from the team that won the World Cup in Qatar, together with their families, to join him in a match that will be unforgettable for all national-team supporters.”

Messi decided to retire internationally after losing the 2026 World Cup final, but revealed the decision only days ago because of his father’s death several weeks earlier.

His Argentina career began in 2005 and lasted more than 20 years. He made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals, led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and finished runners-up in 2014 and 2026. He also won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.