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Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina’s 28-man squad for the October international window despite announcing his retirement from international football.
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The 39-year-old is expected to make one final appearance for the Albiceleste against Benin on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
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Argentina are preparing an emotional farewell for their captain, with members of the 2022 World Cup winning squad and their families expected to join the celebrations.
September 15, (THEWILL) – Lionel Messi is set to make one final appearance for Argentina after announcing his retirement from international football, with the legendary captain accepting an invitation to feature against Benin in what will be his official farewell to the national team.
Messi was included in Lionel Scaloni’s 28-man squad announced on Tuesday for Argentina’s upcoming home friendlies, ending uncertainty over whether the seven-time Ballon d’Or winner would return to the national team after his retirement. The Argentine Football Association confirmed that Messi will be part of the squad for the October 6 meeting with Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
The occasion is being planned as a celebration of Messi’s extraordinary international career rather than the beginning of another chapter. AFA president Claudio Tapia confirmed that the federation invited Messi to return so he could receive the farewell it believes he deserves in front of Argentina supporters.
Messi Accepts Final Argentina Invitation
Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31, bringing an end to a 21 year career with Argentina. His decision came after the 2026 World Cup, where Argentina reached the final before losing 1-0 to Spain.
At the time, Messi made it clear that he believed his international journey had reached its natural conclusion.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right time”, Messi said in his farewell message. He also stated that he had given everything he had to the national team and had nothing more to give.
However, his retirement did not prevent Argentina from giving their captain the opportunity to say goodbye on home soil.
Tapia said Messi accepted the invitation for the Benin fixture, turning what would otherwise have been another international friendly into a landmark occasion for Argentine football. The AFA president also invited the players from Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winning squad, along with their families, to be present for Messi’s final appearance with the national team.
Benin Match Becomes Messi’s Farewell
Argentina’s October 6 clash with Benin will take place at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, the same stadium that will also host the Albiceleste’s friendly against Burkina Faso three days earlier.
Before returning to Buenos Aires, Argentina will face Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Córdoba. The fixtures represent the national team’s first matches since the disappointment of losing the 2026 World Cup final.
Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso have been included specifically for the Benin encounter, further underlining the special nature of the October 6 fixture. The match is expected to centre around giving Messi his final moment in an Argentina shirt.
The decision also means Messi’s final appearance for Argentina will no longer simply be remembered as the World Cup final defeat to Spain. Instead, the 39 year old will have the opportunity to close his international career surrounded by supporters in Buenos Aires and alongside many of the teammates with whom he finally achieved World Cup glory in Qatar.
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An Extraordinary Argentina Career
Messi leaves behind an international career that transformed dramatically over two decades.
When he made his senior debut against Hungary in August 2005, Argentina had no idea that the teenager would eventually become the country’s record goalscorer, record appearance maker and captain during one of the most successful periods in the national team’s history.
Messi finished his international career with 207 appearances and 125 goals for Argentina. He also won the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, the 2022 Finalissima and, most importantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The triumph in Qatar ultimately became the defining moment of Messi’s Argentina career. After years of criticism and painful defeats in major finals, he finally lifted the World Cup as captain and cemented his place in the history of the national team.
Argentina subsequently reached another World Cup final in 2026, giving Messi one more opportunity to add another major international trophy before Spain claimed the title.
One Last Night at the Monumental
Now, the story will have one final chapter.
Rather than leaving the Argentina national team with the 2026 World Cup final as his last appearance, Messi will return for a farewell specifically arranged to honour his contribution to the Albiceleste.
For Argentine supporters, the October 6 fixture against Benin will be about much more than the result. It will be an opportunity to see the No. 10 wear the national shirt one final time and celebrate the player who delivered the country’s first World Cup in 36 years and helped Argentina win two Copa América titles.
After more than two decades, 207 appearances and 125 goals, Lionel Messi’s Argentina story is finally approaching its closing scene. This time, he will get the chance to say goodbye on home soil, in front of the supporters who watched his entire international journey unfold.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
