The match, scheduled for October 6 at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, is being planned as a farewell celebration for the 39-year-old captain, who has already announced his decision to retire from international football.
Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia confirmed that Messi would be invited to take part in what he described as a fitting send-off for the country’s most decorated footballer.
“We made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andres Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves on 6 October here in Argentina,” Tapia said.
The Monumental, which has a capacity of about 85,000 spectators, will host the occasion, with members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad also invited.
Tapia said the event was expected to be an “unforgettable” occasion for supporters.
Messi closes Argentina chapter
Messi announced his retirement from international football in August following Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
The decision came after an emotionally difficult period for the forward, who had also been considering his future following the death of his father, Jorge.
Messi said stepping away from Argentina duty had hurt him “deeply”, but maintained that he had “given it my all” and had “nothing left to give”.
The decision brings the curtain closer to an extraordinary international career that saw Messi finally lead Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.
The Inter Miami forward is Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, having scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for the national team.
He also won eight Ballon d’Or awards during his career and has established himself as one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport.
World Cup winners to join farewell
Argentina’s 2022 World Cup champions have also been invited to the October fixture, adding to the significance of the planned celebration.
Messi's farewell comes after a period in which Argentina remained one of the dominant forces in international football, having combined their 2022 World Cup triumph with success in the Copa América.
The match against Benin is expected to give Argentine supporters an opportunity to celebrate Messi’s contribution to the national team on home soil.
Disciplinary restrictions complicate preparations
Argentina’s preparations for the farewell will take place against the backdrop of a FIFA disciplinary sanction imposed following incidents at the 2026 World Cup.
The national team was ordered to play its next two home matches at 50 per cent capacity, although one match of the sanction was suspended.
The punishment followed breaches of the FIFA disciplinary code relating to the use of a sporting event for non-sporting demonstrations, team misconduct and discriminatory chants and gestures by supporters.
Argentina players were involved in one of the incidents after their World Cup semi-final victory over England.
Several players held up a banner asserting Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory.
The remaining sanction is expected to have been served before Messi’s farewell match.
Argentina are scheduled to play Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30 before facing Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3.
The two fixtures are expected to account for the applicable home-match sanction before the Benin encounter.
Paredes, Molina suspended
Argentina will also be without midfielders Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina for the upcoming fixtures because of suspensions arising from incidents following the World Cup final defeat by Spain.
Paredes received a 10-match suspension, while Molina was handed a seven-game ban for their respective roles in the post-match clashes.
Their absences will provide further challenges for Argentina as the team begins preparations for a new phase without its long-standing captain.
For Messi, however, the October fixture is expected to be less about competition than celebration.
After more than two decades representing Argentina and a record-breaking international career, the match against Benin could provide the home crowd with its final opportunity to see the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner wear the famous blue-and-white shirt on Argentine soil.