Argentina fans will have one last chance to see Lionel Messi in the famous Albiceleste shirt.
The World Cup-winning talisman has been called up to the Argentina squad for an Oct. 6 friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires. The move comes weeks after the 38-year-old Messi announced his retirement from international football following Argentina’s heartbreaking 1-0 loss after extra time to Spain in the World Cup Final.
“We invited the best player in the world to play, our captain Lionel Andres Messi, to have a deserved farewell on October 6, here in Argentina,” Argentina Football Association head Claudio Tapia said on social media.
Capped 207 times by Argentina since his senior debut in 2005, Messi set the national records for appearances and goals with 125. His six World Cup appearances are most all-time, tied with eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi’s 21 World Cup goals are second to only former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Kylian Mbappe’s 22.
Messi led Argentina to a World Cup triumph in 2022, along with appearances in the 2010 and 2026 Finals. He also won Copas America in 2021 and 2024.
The Rosario native officially announced his international retirement on Aug. 31.
“I swear to you that I always gave it my all — not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too,” Messi wrote. ”I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”
Currently in his fourth season at Inter Miami, Messi has given no indication about his club future after this season. His father and agent, Jorge, died at the age of 68 in early August.
On top of the Oct. 6 match against Benin, Argentina will play Bolivia on Sept. 30 and Burkina Faso on Oct. 3 during the upcoming international window.
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Argentina squad for upcoming friendlies
GK - Dibu Martinez (Chelsea), Juan Musso (Atletico) and Geronimo Rulli (Manchester City)
DF - Agustin Giay (Palmeiras), Leonardo Balerdi (Roma), Cuti Romero (Atletico), Licha Martinez (Manchester United), Juan Foyth (Villarreal), Facundo Medina (Bayer Leverkusen), Nicolas Tagliafico (Lyon) and Roman Vega (Zenit)
MF - Enzo Fernandez (Manchester City), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Valentin Barco (Chelsea), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Exequiel Palacios (Ipswich Town), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Nico Paz (Como), Franco Mastantuono (Fiorentina), Matias Soule (Roma), Giuliano Simeone (Atletico and Gianluca Prestianni (Benfica)
FW - Jose Manuel Lopez (Palmeiras), Santiago Castro (Roma), Julian Alvarez (Atletico), Lautaro Martinez (Inter) and Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
