All great things come to an end and Lionel Messi makes his last appearance for Argentina when they face Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Messi, who hasn't featured for his country since July's World Cup final defeat, will win his 208th and final cap and, with 125 international goals, is just 1/12 in the anytime goalscorer market.
The Albiceleste have beaten Bolivia 4-0 and Burkina Faso 7-0 without Messi in the current international window and will take on Benin, who have been involved in AFCON qualification.
They drew 1-1 with Burkina Faso before defeating Mauritania 2-1, yet are likely to be support artists on the Argentine leading man's big night.
Argentina v Benin Tips Summary
Best Bet - Lionel Messi to score first @ 6/5
Alternative Bet - Argentina to win and both teams to score @ 9/4
Bet Builder - Argentina Over 4 Goals, Lautaro Martinez to Score, Julian Alvarez to Score & Argentina Over 7 Corners @ 9/2
Argentina v Benin Prediction
Best Bet: Lionel Messi to score first @ 6/5
Teams rarely go into games intending to make a specific player the star, yet it is hard not to imagine some Argentina players passing up chances and instead moving the ball to their captain.
Messi's status means he deserves that reverence, and the aim will be to get him to score. It may even be a relief for him and the team to do so early on his big night.
The 39-year-old feels sure to convert, and with Lionel Scaloni sure to bring him off early to let the crowd show their love for the little number 10, a last-goalscorer bet is unlikely, so back him to break the deadlock.
Alternative Bet: Argentina to win and both teams to score @ 9/4
Argentina are still to concede in the current international window, but may be distracted by their focus on Messi and Benin could get on the scoresheet for the seventh straight match.
Gernot Rohr's squad has had a turbulent build-up to the game and is missing several key players, including Besiktas' Junior Olaitan.
However, that feeling of everything being against them heading into this match may motivate them.
The Cheetahs might cause a surprise or two on the break in Buenos Aires.
Argentina v Benin Bet Builder Tip
Argentina Over 4 Goals
Lautaro Martinez to Score
Julian Alvarez to Score
Argentina Over 7 Corners
Pays 9/2
Argentina are expected to enjoy a heavy victory, so backing them to score four or more goals seems sensible, with Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez also finding the back of the net.
Those two have partnered up front in Argentina's two games in this window. Martinez has scored in both, while Alvarez was on target against Burkina Faso.
With Argentina expected to have most of the play, over seven corners is another likely play.
They had 12 in the win over Bolivia and then seven in the victory against the Burkinabees.
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Key Match Stats
Lionel Messi is due to win his 208th and final international cap, scoring 125 goals, another record
Messi registered 12 goal involvements at the World Cup
Argentina have won their two matches in the current window by an aggregate of 11-0
Burkina Faso have scored in their last six games and have scored exactly once in their last three matches
Lautaro Martinez has scored in both of Argentina's friendlies
Argentina have had a combined 19 corners in their two internationals in this window
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
