Lionel Messi will make his final appearance for Argentina on October 6 in a farewell friendly against Benin at River Plate’s Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

Argentine Football Association President Claudio Tapia announced the send-off for the 39-year-old captain, saying Messi will be given the farewell he deserves in front of supporters in his homeland.

The match will close more than two decades of international football for Messi, who announced his retirement from Argentina duty on August 31 following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Tapia described the occasion as the “last tango of Lionel Andres Messi.” Members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families have also been invited to attend the farewell.

Messi ends his international career as Argentina’s record goalscorer and appearance-maker, with 125 goals in more than 200 matches. His major titles with the national team include the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2021 and 2024 Copa America championships.

His last competitive international goal came against Egypt in Argentina’s 3-2 victory in the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup. Argentina went on to reach the final, where it lost 1-0 to Spain.

The Benin match will be the last of three friendlies scheduled for Argentina following the World Cup. The team will first face Bolivia at Cordoba’s Mario Kempes Stadium on September 30 before playing Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3.

The friendlies also come after FIFA imposed disciplinary sanctions on the Argentine Football Association over incidents during the World Cup.

Argentina was ordered to play its next two home matches at 50% spectator capacity, although one of the two restrictions was suspended subject to a probationary period. The sanctions stemmed from several disciplinary breaches during the tournament, including discriminatory conduct, team misconduct, security issues and the use of a sporting event for a non-sporting demonstration.

Among the incidents examined was the display of a banner asserting Argentina’s claim to the British-administered Falkland Islands following its semifinal victory over England.

With only one of the two attendance restrictions currently active, that sanction is expected to be served before Messi’s October 6 farewell.

Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer after ending his international career with Argentina.

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