Buenos Aires, Oct 06 (V7N)- Lionel Messi is preparing to make his final appearance for Argentina on home soil when the world champions face Benin in an international friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
Messi, who has announced his retirement from international football, will bring his Argentina career to a close after a record 207 appearances and 125 goals for the national team. The farewell comes just months after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
While the occasion is expected to be an emotional celebration of Messi's career, Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou has made clear that his team will not simply act as spectators.
Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca ahead of the match, Dandjinou said the fixture was a special, once-in-a-career opportunity because it would be Messi's final game for Argentina. However, he stressed that Benin would also be playing to represent its country and compete seriously.
Asked whether he would allow Messi to score if the Argentine received a late penalty, Dandjinou rejected the idea. He said his responsibility as a goalkeeper would be to try to stop the shot, regardless of the significance of Messi's farewell.
Dandjinou also said Messi does not need to be given a goal as a gift, arguing that scoring should come from the Argentine's own ability and effort on the field. He described competing at full strength for the entire match as the proper way to respect the Argentine star.
Despite his competitive approach, the Benin goalkeeper expressed great admiration for Messi, describing him as a football legend and saying it would be a privilege to share the field with a player he had grown up watching.
Dandjinou also joked about the possibility of receiving Messi's iconic No. 10 shirt after the match. He said virtually every player in the Benin squad would want the jersey and suggested that several shirts should be prepared to avoid a scramble over the historic souvenir.
The Argentina-Benin friendly is scheduled for Tuesday, October 6, at the Monumental, where more than 85,000 supporters are expected to witness Messi's farewell in Argentina. The match is part of a special celebration marking the end of his more than two-decade international career.
Messi leaves the national team as Argentina's record appearance-maker and leading scorer, having won the 2022 World Cup and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024. His final appearance will mark the end of one of the most celebrated international careers in football history.
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