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Lionel Messi is set to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires as he prepares for what is expected to be his final appearance for the Argentina national team.
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The University of Buenos Aires unanimously approved the honour, recognising Messi not only for his extraordinary football achievements but also for his perseverance, humility and contribution to Argentina’s national identity.
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The doctorate will be presented to Messi on October 6, the day Argentina are scheduled to face Benin in a farewell fixture at the Monumental Stadium.
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The honour adds another significant chapter to Messi’s international legacy, which includes the Copa América, Finalissima and FIFA World Cup triumphs with Argentina.
October 1, (THEWILL) – Lionel Messi’s expected farewell from international football will carry an additional moment of recognition after the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) announced that the Argentina captain is set to receive an honorary doctorate.
The prestigious distinction will be presented to Messi on Tuesday, October 6, ahead of Argentina’s farewell match against Benin at the Monumental Stadium, where the 39-year-old is expected to make his final appearance for the national team.
The honour, unanimously approved by the university’s Higher Council, represents the institution’s highest honorary distinction and recognises Messi’s impact both as a footballer and as a figure closely associated with Argentina’s national identity.
While Messi’s extraordinary list of trophies and records has made him one of the most decorated footballers in history, UBA said its decision was based on more than what he has achieved on the pitch.
The university highlighted qualities including excellence, perseverance, humility and ethical conduct, while also recognising the commitment Messi has shown in representing Argentina throughout his international career.
UBA Rector Ricardo Gelpi said the institution wanted the honour to acknowledge the person behind the statistics and football achievements that have defined Messi’s career.
“Beyond what all Argentinians know about Messi, regardless of the numbers and statistics that attest to his status as an athlete, we also want to recognise a humble, persevering person, an example and ambassador of our popular culture and national identity,” Gelpi said.
The decision comes at a particularly symbolic point in Messi’s career, with Argentina preparing to celebrate the player who eventually delivered the country’s biggest international football prize after years of disappointment.
From International Frustration to Argentina Hero
Messi’s international career was not always defined by triumph.
For years, the forward faced intense scrutiny over his inability to replicate his club success with the Argentina national team, particularly after a series of defeats in major finals.
That narrative changed dramatically in the latter stages of his international career.
Messi helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América before adding the 2022 Finalissima and, most significantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The 2022 World Cup triumph completed one of the biggest missing pieces of his career and further strengthened his standing among Argentina’s greatest sporting figures.
He later helped Argentina retain the Copa América in 2024, adding another major international trophy to his collection.
Argentina also reached the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, giving Messi another opportunity to compete on football’s biggest international stage.
Those achievements have transformed his relationship with the country and helped establish him as much more than simply a football superstar.
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Why The University Chose Messi
The University of Buenos Aires made clear that the honorary doctorate is not simply a reward for Messi’s football statistics.
The institution considers honorary doctorates a way of recognising individuals whose achievements and influence extend beyond their immediate professional fields.
For Messi, the university believes his influence reaches into Argentine culture and national identity.
UBA Vice-Rector Emiliano Yacobitti said Messi had represented the Argentina shirt with qualities that went beyond his performances during matches.
“Leo Messi knew how to convey the values of the Argentine jersey and represent it with courage and respect, and thus managed to take it to the highest level of world football,” Yacobitti said.
Yacobitti stressed that Messi’s contribution should not be measured exclusively through his achievements as a footballer.
“But this Honorary Doctorate is a recognition that transcends his football career. It is a tribute and a thank you that we offer him from the UBA, on behalf of all of Argentine society,” he added.
The statement reflects the broader significance of Messi’s status in Argentina, where his career has become closely connected with the country’s sporting image around the world.
Honor Comes Before Argentina Farewell
The timing of the doctorate makes the recognition even more significant.
Messi is expected to receive the honour just before Argentina face Benin at the Monumental Stadium on October 6.
The fixture is expected to serve as a farewell occasion for the Argentina captain as he prepares to bring his international career towards its conclusion.
If it proves to be Messi’s final appearance for Argentina, the occasion will mark the end of a national-team journey that has lasted more than two decades.
During that period, he has gone from a teenage prodigy to the captain who eventually delivered the World Cup and multiple Copa América triumphs to his country.
His journey has also included difficult moments, including criticism following Argentina’s defeats in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals.
Those setbacks made his eventual success with Argentina even more significant.
A Different Kind of Farewell
The honorary doctorate gives Messi’s farewell another dimension.
Footballers are typically celebrated at the end of their careers through testimonials, trophies, tributes and individual awards.
Messi, however, is now set to receive an academic distinction from one of Argentina’s most prominent universities.
It means his legacy is being recognised not only through the football achievements that made him famous but also through the influence he has had on Argentine society.
For Argentina, the farewell will therefore be about more than saying goodbye to a footballer.
It will be an opportunity to celebrate a player who became one of the country’s most recognisable ambassadors and whose career helped shape Argentina’s modern sporting identity.
The University of Buenos Aires believes Messi’s humility and perseverance are part of that legacy.
And as the Argentina captain prepares to walk onto the Monumental pitch for what could be the final time in the national colours, the honorary doctorate will provide another reminder of how far his journey has taken him.
From the disappointment of losing international finals to lifting the World Cup as Argentina captain, Messi’s relationship with his country has transformed in remarkable ways.
Now, with an expected farewell approaching, one of Argentina’s leading universities is adding its own tribute to the legacy.
Lionel Messi is not simply being honoured for what he achieved in football, but for what he has come to represent to Argentina.
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
