Messi’s Argentina farewell match faces tension as Benin captain warns of ‘dirty play’

Argentina’s planned farewell for Lionel Messi has taken on a more competitive edge after Benin captain and record goalscorer Steve Mounie accused Argentina’s players of using provocation and “dirty play” to unsettle opponents.

The match is expected to be a celebration of Messi in front of his home supporters, but Mounie said Benin would treat it as an opportunity to make an impression on a global audience rather than simply as a friendly.

Mounie, who will miss the game because of injury, told Spanish newspaper AS: “We see the match as a celebration and we want the world to see us, but we are not going there just to play a friendly. We want to show that we can play football because it is a huge platform and everyone will be watching.”

The Augsburg striker added: “It is an opportunity for all our players to show their skills to the world. If we perform well, we will certainly have the chance to play more big matches. It is an unforgettable moment for us.”

However, Mounie also warned his team-mates not to be drawn into confrontations with Argentina, referring to his previous encounters with defender Leonardo Balerdi, whom he faced when Balerdi was playing for Marseille.

“I was sent off because of him,” Mounie said. “He has his tricks and he is very cunning. The entire Argentina team plays that way – dirty play. It is a characteristic of South American teams; they try to affect your morale, talk to you and provoke you.”

Mounie said he had seen similar behaviour from Argentina at the World Cup, as well as from Paraguay during their match against France.

“If you are not mentally strong, you can react and receive a red or yellow card,” he said. “Therefore, Benin must be careful.”

The Benin captain said he would remind his colleagues to remain composed, with the team determined to finish the match with 11 players.

“I will ask them to stay calm because the Argentine players are capable of provoking you,” he said. “They have to be smart because we want to finish the match with 11 players, and I did not do that when I faced Balerdi.”

Mounie recalled another incident involving the defender, saying it was not the first time the pair had faced one another.

“In an earlier match, he did something similar when he grabbed my chest and I received a yellow card,” he said. “Then I was shown a red card a year later.”

He described Balerdi as “a very cunning player, but a good player” and said he would speak to him if they met during the game.

“If I see him in the match, I will ask him not to do that to our young players, and I will ask everyone to be careful,” Mounie said. “But he will do it anyway, because that is the game he plays, and the game everyone plays.”