Messi to make final Argentina appearance in Buenos Aires friendly against Benin
Lionel Messi will play his final match for Argentina on Tuesday (October 6, 2026), a friendly against Benin at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, and Argentina fans say they remain confident about the team's future beyond the 39-year-old superstar.
Messi leaves an extensive international record that includes the 2022 World Cup title, two more World Cup finals (2014, 2026), two Copa América trophies (2021, 2024), an Olympic gold medal (2008) and 125 goals as Argentina's all-time leading scorer, and his decision to retire has prompted questions about whether the side can avoid a long trophy drought reminiscent of the 35-year dry spell following Diego Maradona's departure.
“Messi leaves behind something unequaled,” national coach Lionel Scaloni says. “We have to keep playing, but the feeling of having him on the pitch is unique. I've never seen anyone else convey what he does on a football field, and that is what we're going to miss.” Scaloni, who is in advanced negotiations to renew his contract for another four years, added: “The Argentine national team will endure. We will remain at a high level, I have no doubt about that.”
Argentina's first two matches after the World Cup without Messi produced a 4-0 win over Bolivia and a 7-0 victory against Burkina Faso, results that the coaching staff and supporters say offered early glimpses of the post-Messi team. Alongside established internationals such as Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez, Argentina fielded younger options during those fixtures.
A group of emerging players drew attention in the recent friendlies, among them Nicolás Paz, Franco Mastantuono, Gianluca Prestianni and Leonel Flores. Flores is a Boca Juniors youth player who made his professional debut two months ago and has already earned senior national team experience, while Paz, playing out of Italian club Como, was one of the scorers.
Supporter Cristian Versalles, 55, watched the victory over Burkina Faso and told the AP: “There's a changing of the guard; maybe we have to play differently now, not thinking in terms of Messi and 10 others,' but rather as a unified team,” and his son Ramiro, 23, said: “Given the number of players coming through, there's definitely a new generation ready to step up. Nico Paz is the heir apparent.”
Also at the friendly, 10-year-old fan Uzzi Rivero wore the No. 19 jersey — the same one Messi wore during his senior national team debut in 2005 — and said: “It makes me really sad that he doesn't play for Argentina anymore.” Valentina Gago, 20, added: “I'm excited about Argentina without Messi; my favorite player is Lautaro Martínez. It's not the same as Messi but I love him just the same.” With his goal against Burkina Faso, Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez ranks as Argentina's third-highest all-time goal-scorer with 42, and Gago said: “As long as the players are eager to give their all for the shirt, for me, Argentina will remain a contender.”
The world will find out at the 2028 Copa América.
