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Lionel Messi has revealed the special jersey he will wear during his final appearance for Argentina against Benin on October 6.
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The farewell match will take place at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, marking the end of Messi’s international career.
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The commemorative shirt features a sky-blue base, a central white stripe, gold lettering and a Sun of May-inspired design.
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Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families have been invited to attend the emotional occasion.
September 22, (THEWILL) – Lionel Messi has unveiled the special Argentina jersey he will wear for his final international appearance, with the legendary forward preparing to bid farewell to the national team against Benin on October 6.
The 39-year-old shared a video of the commemorative shirt on Instagram, accompanied by the emotional message: “One last match. A jersey for a lifetime.” The reveal comes as Argentina prepares for a farewell event designed to celebrate one of the most successful careers in the country’s football history.
Messi’s final appearance will take place at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, where he is expected to make his 208th appearance for the national team. The match was confirmed after the Argentine Football Association (AFA) invited the captain to return for an official farewell following his decision to retire from international football in August.
READ ALSO:
https://x.com/KalshiFC/status/2102135094106354095 (link to the jersey reveal video)
A Special Jersey for Messi’s Final Match
The commemorative design moves away from Argentina’s familiar alternating blue-and-white stripes. Instead, the shirt features a predominantly sky-blue base with a single broad white stripe running vertically through the centre.
Gold lettering is used for Messi’s name and iconic No. 10 on the back, while a Sun of May-inspired graphic adds another reference to Argentina’s national identity. The shirt also features a distinctive gold “M” emblem on the chest in place of the usual manufacturer branding, according to kit-focused reports.
The design is intended to mark the significance of Messi’s final night in the famous blue-and-white colours, following more than two decades of international service.
Argentina Plans Emotional Farewell
The Benin friendly will be the final fixture in a series of three matches for Argentina during the international window. Lionel Scaloni’s side will first face Bolivia in Córdoba on September 30 before meeting Burkina Faso at the Monumental on October 3.
Messi is expected to feature in the final match against Benin, which has been organised specifically as his farewell appearance. AFA president Claudio Tapia has also invited the members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families to attend the event.
The invitation is intended to bring together the group that helped Argentina end its 36-year wait for the World Cup in Qatar. Messi also guided the national team to Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 Finalissima.
He retires as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, with 125 goals, and the country’s most-capped player. His final competitive international appearance came during Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign.
With the Monumental preparing for an emotional night, Messi’s farewell jersey will serve as a lasting symbol of the final chapter of his remarkable journey with the national team.
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
