Messi set for Argentina farewell as champions begin life after their captain

Lionel Messi will make his final appearance for Argentina on Tuesday when the South American champions face Benin in a farewell friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The 39-year-old will surrender the captain’s armband after more than two decades representing his country, with 85,000 supporters expected to attend alongside many of the team-mates who helped him win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The occasion will also introduce a new generation of Argentina players, marking a symbolic handover from the man whose international honours include a World Cup, two Copa America titles and the Finalissima.

Messi leaves as Argentina’s most-capped player and record goalscorer, having scored 125 goals in 207 appearances. He also holds the national record for assists, with 68.

His farewell comes two and a half months after Argentina’s ill-tempered World Cup final defeat by Spain in New Jersey. Messi left that match in tears after having little influence on the game.

“I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance,” Messi wrote in August when announcing his international retirement.

The forward remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, but said after the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago that he could retire from football altogether sooner than expected.

Members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad, who secured the country’s third star, will attend Tuesday’s farewell with their families. They will be joined by former team-mates including Angel Di Maria, who ended his international career in 2024, as the torch passes to the next generation.

Some of the newcomers, such as Franco Mastantuono and Leonel Flores, were not born when Messi – known as “La Pulga” (“The Flea”) – made his Argentina debut in 2005, during an era when the national team was dominated by Diego Maradona.

“It’s going to be an unforgettable day for everyone. Everyone wants to be at this match, and now it’s just about enjoying it,” said Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni.

Argentina have already demonstrated their strength without Messi, although Scaloni acknowledged that replacing a player regarded by many as the greatest in football history would not be simple.

“Collectively, we will try to fill the void left by Leo,” said Scaloni, who is negotiating a contract extension after his future remained uncertain following the World Cup defeat in July.

Scaloni will also see 38-year-old vice-captain Nicolas Otamendi say goodbye. Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso were selected only for the Benin match, meaning they may also have played their final games for Argentina.

Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are expected to lead the side after Messi, with Romero set to inherit the captaincy first given to Messi at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Emiliano Martinez and Lautaro Martinez are next in line.

Argentina beat Bolivia 4-0 in Cordoba on Wednesday before defeating Burkina Faso 7-0 at the Monumental on Saturday. Nico Paz and Jose Manuel Lopez scored against Bolivia, while Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni netted their first international goals against Burkina Faso.

The remaining question is who will wear Messi’s number 10 shirt.

“We won’t give the number 10 to anyone until Leo’s match takes place,” Scaloni said. “After that, we’ll see.”