Lionel Messi is preparing to say one final goodbye to Argentina.
After announcing his retirement from international football following Argentina’s 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign, the legendary No. 10 will return to the famous blue-and-white shirt one last time when La Albiceleste face Benin on October 6, 2026.
The match at Buenos Aires’ iconic Estadio Monumental has officially been designated as Messi’s farewell appearance for Argentina, bringing an emotional end to a remarkable international career that has spanned more than two decades.
Messi’s Final Argentina Match
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed that Messi will feature in the final friendly of Argentina’s upcoming international window.
Argentina vs Benin
📅 Date: Tuesday, October 6, 2026
🏟️ Venue: Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
⚽ Match: International Friendly
🇦🇷 Occasion: Lionel Messi’s Argentina farewell
AFA president Claudio Tapia confirmed that Messi would be given the farewell the federation believes he deserves on home soil. Members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families have also been invited to the occasion.
For the thousands of supporters expected inside the Monumental, it will be a chance to celebrate the captain who delivered some of the greatest moments in Argentina’s football history.
A Special Shirt for His Final Appearance
Adding another emotional touch to the occasion, Messi has revealed the special Argentina shirt he plans to wear for his final international appearance.
The commemorative design features Argentina’s familiar colours, with gold detailing on Messi’s name and iconic No. 10. Messi teased the shirt on social media with the message: “One last match. A jersey for a lifetime.”
It will be the final time Messi walks onto the pitch wearing the Argentina shirt he has represented since making his senior debut in 2005.
The Numbers Behind a Legendary Career
Messi enters his farewell match as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.
He currently has 207 appearances and 125 goals for La Albiceleste. His final appearance against Benin will therefore take his international tally to 208 caps.
His Argentina career has included:
- 🏆 2021 Copa América
- 🏆 2022 FIFA World Cup
- 🏆 2024 Copa América
- 🥈 2014 FIFA World Cup runners-up
- 🥈 2026 FIFA World Cup runners-up
- ⚽ 125 international goals before the farewell match
- 👕 207 Argentina appearances before the farewell match
From the disappointment of losing major finals to finally lifting the biggest trophies in international football, Messi’s journey with Argentina has been filled with unforgettable highs and difficult lows.
The Final Three-Match Window
Messi’s farewell will come at the end of a three-match Argentina schedule.
Argentina will first face Bolivia on September 30 at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba.
They will then meet Burkina Faso on October 3 at the Estadio Monumental, before returning to the same stadium three days later for the much-anticipated farewell against Benin.
Importantly, Messi is expected to feature only in the final match against Benin during this window.
One Last Night for No. 10
There will be no shortage of emotion when Messi steps onto the Monumental pitch on October 6.
For more than 20 years, Argentina supporters have watched him carry the famous No. 10 through moments of heartbreak, redemption and historic success.
Now, the final chapter is here.
The world will watch as Lionel Messi pulls on the Argentina shirt one last time, takes his place on the pitch and says goodbye to the national team he helped transform.
One final match. One final No. 10. One final goodbye.
