Lionel Messi is set to play his final international match for Argentina on October 6, 2026. The friendly against Benin will serve as his official farewell from the national team, known as La Albiceleste.
Here are the details surrounding the event, including the time, venue, and plans for his send-off.
When and Where is Messi's Farewell Match?
Lionel Messi will don the iconic blue and white jersey one last time for a special farewell match. Although the 39-year-old star had previously announced his retirement from international football, he has been called up for one final appearance during the upcoming friendly window.
Messi's definitive goodbye is scheduled for October 6, 2026, against Benin. The match will kick off at 5:00 PM local time at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
The stadium, home to River Plate and with a capacity of nearly 85,000, will provide the backdrop for the end of a career spanning over 20 years with the national team. This friendly against Benin will conclude a series of international fixtures and mark the final chapter for a living legend.
Before this match, Argentina will play two other friendlies. On September 30, the current World Cup runners-up will face Bolivia in Córdoba. Then, on October 3, they will host Burkina Faso at the same Estadio Monumental. Messi is expected to feature only in the final game against Benin.
Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), has revealed that a grand farewell ceremony is being planned. The 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families have also been invited to join their captain for his last night in the national team colors.
A Second, and Seemingly Final, Retirement
This marks the second time Messi has retired from the Argentine national team. He first announced he would no longer play for his country in 2016, following a heartbreaking loss to Chile in the Copa América Centenario final. In that match, Messi missed his penalty in the decisive shootout, marking his fourth final lost with Argentina.
However, he reconsidered his decision just a few weeks later. That return would change the course of his history with the national team, as Messi went on to win two Copa América titles, the Finalissima, and the long-awaited World Cup in 2022.
This time, all signs point to a permanent farewell. At 39, the decision appears to have been made more calmly and after a longer period of reflection following the 2026 World Cup final, which Argentina won.
Messi's Staggering Statistics with Argentina
Ahead of his farewell match, Messi has earned 207 caps for La Albiceleste, scoring 125 goals and providing 68 assists in 17,120 minutes of play. These figures make him Argentina's most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer and assist provider.
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