Lionel Messi's Last Argentina Match Is Set for October 6 Against Benin in Buenos Aires
The farewell match concludes a three-game international break that opens against Bolivia in Cordoba on September 30.
Summary
Lionel Messi to play his final match for the Argentina national team against Benin on October 6, 2026
The friendly serves as a formal domestic send-off for the 2022 World Cup champion at the Estadio Monumental
Argentina will play three friendlies during the window as the federation navigates a FIFA capacity sanction
Lionel Messi is officially taking his final bow for the Argentina national team. He announced his retirement earlier in September 2026 and will step onto the pitch for his last match on October 6, 2026. This historic farewell match occurs against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The fixture operates as a formal domestic send-off to allow the Argentinian FA and local fans to celebrate their captain on home soil. A deliberate schedule ensures the legendary player exits the international stage recognized by the nation he led to a world title.
Football federation officials orchestrated this curtain call directly. Argentinian FA president Claudio Tapia used social media to announce the inclusion of Lionel Messi in the squad. Tapia stated the team invited their captain back to ensure he receives a deserved farewell in Argentina. National team manager Lionel Scaloni is organizing the broader roster to support the captain during this window. Midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are already confirmed to join the squad for the October 6 match. Remaining players called up from the domestic league will be announced on Friday.
The October 6 clash against Benin concludes a busy international break featuring three friendly matches. Action begins September 30 when the team faces Bolivia at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Cordoba. Atmosphere for that opening game remains constrained due to a 50 percent capacity reduction in the stands. This limitation stems from a FIFA sanction following a post-game altercation involving Argentina players during the 2026 World Cup.
After the sanctioned fixture in Cordoba, the squad travels back to Buenos Aires to host Burkina Faso on October 3. That contest establishes the immediate stage for the main event three days later. The national team built a deliberate runway leading into the October 6 showdown by mapping out this three-game sequence. Every game in the upcoming international break culminates at the Estadio Monumental. Fans receive one last opportunity to witness Lionel Messi commanding the pitch as an active international player before his retirement.
