Buenos aires: In preparation for a historic farewell, Messi is getting ready for his final appearance in the Argentina jersey. Argentine star Lionel Messi headlines his national team’s squad for upcoming international friendlies, a move that paves the way for his final appearance in the Albiceleste jersey amidst a highly anticipated celebration by Argentine fans.
According to National Iraqi News Agency, Coach Lionel Scaloni announced the squad, which includes Messi alongside several of the team’s biggest stars, as well as a group of promising young talents, in preparation for the matches scheduled for the coming period. Messi is expected to play a farewell match against Benin on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, after the captain agreed to participate in the game, which is expected to be a tribute to his historic career with Argentina.
The president of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio Tapia, confirmed that several of Messi’s teammates who won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be invited to join him and their families for this occasion, in a celebratory atmosphere befitting his career with the national team. Scaloni’s squad, in addition to Messi, includes prominent names such as Emiliano Martinez, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul, Juli¡n Alvarez, and Lautaro Martinez.
The squad also features several young faces, including Roman Veiga, Matas Sol©, Gianluca Brestiani, and Santiago Castro, as Scaloni continues to give opportunities to a new generation of players. Argentina begins its tour against Bolivia on September 30 in C³rdoba, before facing Burkina Faso on October 3, and concludes its matches against Benin on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium.
The Benin match is expected to garner particular attention, as it could mark the final chapter of Messi’s international career after years of achievements with the national team, most notably winning the 2022 World Cup and the Copa Am©rica. Meanwhile, the future of coach Lionel Scaloni with the Argentine national team remains uncertain, as his contract nears its end next December, while the “Tango Dancers” prepare to begin a new era after the 2026 World Cup.