Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina's squad for a friendly against Benin in October. The match is set to be his farewell to international football.
When did he announce his retirement? Messi announced his retirement from Argentina duty in August, the BBC reported, in the wake of his country's defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final and after saying he was considering his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge. The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina when they won the 2022 World Cup, said the decision hurt him "deeply" but that he had "given it my all" and had "nothing left to give". He is Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 appearances, and an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner who currently plays for Inter Miami.
What did the Argentine FA say? Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia said "we made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain" so that he could have "the farewell he truly deserves on 6 October here in Argentina," the BBC reported. River Plate's Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, which holds 85,000, will host the game. Argentina's 2022 World Cup winners have also been invited to the match, which Tapia said would be "unforgettable".
Does a Fifa sanction affect the game? Argentina were ordered to play their next two home matches at 50% capacity for breaches of the Fifa disciplinary code during the World Cup, although one match of that sanction was suspended, the BBC reported. The punishment related to using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature, team misconduct, and discriminatory chants and gestures by supporters. After beating England 2-1 in the semi-final, several Argentina players held up a banner claiming Argentine sovereignty over the Falkland Islands. Friendlies against Bolivia in Cordoba on Sept. 30 and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on Oct. 3 should mean the punishment has been served before the Benin game. Midfielder Leandro Paredes and team-mate Nahuel Molina are not expected to be available, having received 10-game and seven-match suspensions respectively over on-field clashes after the final.
Figures referenced: Lionel Messi. — JudgeMarket.
