Messi named in Argentina squad for farewell match

Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina’s squad for a friendly match against Benin on October 6, with the game expected to mark his final appearance for the national team.

The 39-year-old forward announced his retirement from international football in August after a remarkable two-decade career with Argentina.

Messi’s international career saw him lead Argentina to major honours, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.

“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 October 6 here in Argentina,” said Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia.

The match against Benin will take place at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, which can accommodate 85,000 spectators.

Tapia also invited all of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winners to join Messi for what he said would be an “unforgettable” occasion.

Argentina begin a series of three friendlies against Bolivia on September 30 in Cordoba — their first match since losing the World Cup final to Spain — before taking on Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3.

Messi has been included in the squad for the third match against Benin, when he is expected to make his 208th and final appearance for the national team. He is Argentina’s all-time record scorer with 125 goals.

Following the death of his father Jorge last month, Messi had said he had “serious doubts” about continuing to play football of any sort for “much longer”.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi said when he called time on his Argentina career.

His contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season.

Last month FIFA ordered Argentina to play their next home match with capacity reduced to 50 percent for breaches of its disciplinary code relating to using a sports event for making demonstrations of a non-sporting nature.

After Argentina beat England 2-1 in a tense World Cup semi-final in July, several players held up a banner saying: “The Falklands are Argentine”.

The friendlies are also expected to count towards suspensions handed down following incidents after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat by Spain.

Midfielder Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban, while defender Nahuel Molina was suspended for seven games and Thiago Almada for one.

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