Messi to get Argentina farewell match against Benin

Lionel Messi will get an Argentina send-off at a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires next month, after announcing his international retirement.

Messi confirmed in August that he would step away from international football, in the wake of Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain.

That was the third World Cup final of Messi's career, having also finished as a runner-up in 2014 before starring in the Albiceleste's 2022 success – he won the Golden Ball award on both occasions.

No player has directly contributed to more goals at the World Cup on record (since 1966) than Messi (33 – 21 goals and 12 assists), who has also featured in the most games at the finals (34).

Messi's 12 assists in the competition are also the most of any player, four more than the great Diego Maradona (eight), while only Kylian Mbappe (22) has netted more often, though Messi was the first to surpass Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16.

Messi's international retirement prompted tributes from across the footballing world, but he will appear at one last Argentina game.

On Tuesday, Messi was included in a 28-man squad list published by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for home friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin.

The AFA then clarified in a statement that Messi, along with Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, would only be present for the Benin game at the Estadio Monumental on October 6.

The nature of Messi's involvement is not yet clear, though AFA president Claudio Tapia said the match will represent a celebration of the legendary forward's career. 

"To all Argentina fans, I want to tell you that after a conversation with Lionel Scaloni, we have decided to invite the best player in the world, our national team emblem, our captain, Lionel Messi, so he can have the goodbye he truly deserves on October 6, here, in Argentina," Tapia said in a video statement.

"At the same time, after Lionel accepted the invitation, we decided to invite all the 2022 World Cup winners that played with him in Qatar, so they can, with their families, join him in this match that will be unforgettable. 

"We invite all Argentinians and national team fans to watch 'the last tango' of the best player in the world."

Prior to the Benin match, Argentina will face Bolivia at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba on September 30, with the Burkina Faso game also taking place at the Monumental on October 3.