Lionel Messi is set to make one final appearance for Argentina after being included in the national squad for a farewell friendly against Benin on October 6. The announcement comes only weeks after the 39-year-old forward confirmed his retirement from international football following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) said the match at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental will serve as Messi’s official farewell to the national team. Messi was named in Lionel Scaloni’s squad on Tuesday, with the AFA confirming that he will be involved only in the Benin fixture during the upcoming international window.

Argentina will also face Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30 and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3, but Messi is not expected to play in either of those matches. His appearance against Benin will instead be dedicated to marking the end of his more than two-decade international career. AFA president Claudio Tapia confirmed the plans and said the federation had invited Messi to receive the farewell it believes he deserves. The match will be played at the Monumental, the home ground of River Plate, and is expected to provide the Argentina captain with an opportunity to say goodbye to supporters in his home country.

Tapia has also invited members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad to attend the occasion alongside Messi and their families. Messi announced his international retirement on August 31, shortly after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. He said the decision was difficult but that he understood the time had come to end his Argentina career.  The 2026 tournament had been Messi’s final World Cup, and he finished the competition with eight goals and four assists as Argentina reached the final. The team ultimately lost to Spain after extra time. The farewell will bring an end to one of the longest international careers in Argentine football.

Also Read: Lionel Messi Retires: An Open Letter to Football's Greatest Storyteller

Messi made his senior debut for Argentina in 2005 and has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country’s all-time leading scorer.  His international honours include the 2022 World Cup and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024. He also helped Argentina reach the 2014 World Cup final before securing major international trophies later in his career. Messi’s return for the October fixture does not represent a reversal of his decision to retire from international competition in the conventional sense. The AFA has presented the Benin match specifically as a farewell appearance rather than the beginning of another international campaign.

The federation’s announcement therefore gives Argentina supporters one final opportunity to watch Messi in the national-team shirt after his retirement decision. The Benin match will also mark Argentina’s first meeting with the African side and the final fixture of the team’s three-match home series following the 2026 World Cup. For Messi, it will be his expected 208th and final appearance for Argentina, bringing his international career to a close at the Monumental. After more than 20 years representing the national team, the October 6 fixture is set to provide the captain with a final farewell in front of Argentine supporters.

Also Read: Carlos Espí’s Stoppage-Time Strike Helps Real Madrid Escape Elche’s Fierce Fightback