Lionel Messi is preparing to make his final appearance for Argentina in a farewell match against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires this Tuesday. The 39-year-old icon, who has served his country for over two decades, will officially pass the captain’s armband to a new generation, marking a definitive end to his legendary tenure with the Albiceleste.
The match serves as an emotional international finale for the forward, who holds the record for both appearances and goals for Argentina, having netted 125 times in 207 games alongside a record 68 assists. He joins a storied career that includes a 2022 World Cup victory, two Copa America titles, and the Finalissima. Messi, who remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028, recently suggested he might retire from football entirely sooner than expected following the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago.
Approximately 85,000 fans are expected to fill the stadium, joined by members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad. While stars like Angel Di Maria, who retired in 2024, will be in attendance to witness the transition, coach Lionel Scaloni remains focused on the future. Scaloni noted the day would be unforgettable, though he acknowledged that replacing a player regarded by many as the greatest in history remains a monumental challenge for the coaching staff.
As Messi prepares to exit the international stage, the team is already looking toward its future leadership. Defender Cristian Romero is expected to inherit the captaincy, having been groomed for the role, with veteran vice-captain Nicolas Otamendi also set to step away from the national team after this fixture. Other key veterans, including Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, have been called up exclusively for this match, suggesting their own international careers may also conclude alongside their captain. Scaloni, who mastered the art of building the right supporting cast around Messi, will also say goodbye on Tuesday to 38-year-old vice captain Nicolas Otamendi. First worn by Messi at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, tenacious centre back Romero is set to inherit the captain’s armband.
Argentina’s younger generation has already begun demonstrating their potential in recent outings, notably in a 4-0 victory over Bolivia and a 7-0 rout of Burkina Faso, where newcomers like Nico Paz, Jose Manuel Lopez, Franco Mastantuono, and Gianluca Prestianni made their mark. These rising stars were not yet born when Messi made his international debut in 2005. And besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance,” Messi wrote when announcing his international retirement in August, i have nothing left to give. Including Franco Mastantuono and Leonel Flores, were not even born when “La Pulga” (“The Flea”) made his Argentina debut in 2005 for a team whose history had for so long been dominated by Diego Maradona, several of the newcomers. Argentina swept the Bolivians aside 4-0 with young talents Nico Paz and Jose Manuel Lopez among the scorers.
A significant point of discussion remains the fate of Messi’s iconic number 10 jersey. Coach Scaloni has stated that the shirt will not be assigned to any player until after the farewell match concludes. The squad is now centered around a new core of standard-bearers, including Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez, and Lautaro Martinez, all of whom are tasked with carrying on the nation’s golden era. One small but symbolically significant question remains: Who will inherit Messi’s number 10 shirt, while Argentina’s future is beginning to take shape. “We won’t give the number 10 to anyone until Leo’s match takes place,” Scaloni said. “After that, we’ll see.”.
Reflecting on his decision to depart in August, Messi noted that he had given his all for the jersey. Following a challenging period after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final last summer, the team is now fully invested in a collective effort to bridge the void left by their departing leader as they transition into this next chapter of their football history.
