Archive:Argentina v Benin

Template:Short description Template:Redirect Template:Afd-merge to Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football match Argentina v Benin was an international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin national football teams that was held at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on 6 October 2026. Argentina won the match 3–0. Billed as "The Last Tango", it was the farewell game and last international match for Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, after announcing his retirement from the national team on 31 August 2026 after losing the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi was called up by the national team for his last international match and his farewell game in an international friendly against Benin. Nicolas Otamendi, his international teammate since 2009, also played his last match for the Argentina national football team that day.

Background

Lionel Messi

Messi began playing for the senior national team of Argentina at the age of 18. At 24 years old, Messi became the captain for the national team. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, Argentina lost to Germany 1–0. In the 2015 Copa América final and 2016 Copa América Centenario final, Argentina lost to Chile two times in a row. Losing three consecutive international finals caused Messi to retire from international football, but a nationwide campaign in Argentina helped convince him to return to the national team to lead them for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, in which they lost to France 4–3, in the Round of 16. Since then, Messi led Argentina to victory after a 28-year trophy drought in the 2021 Copa América in which Argentina defeated Brazil in the final, giving Messi's first international trophy for Argentina. Messi led the nation to their first World Cup victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 36 years, and led Argentina to another win in the 2024 Copa América. Messi led the nation to its second consecutive World Cup final in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in which they lost to Spain in extra-time. On 31 August 2026, Messi announced his final retirement from the national team, however, he was called up again for his farewell match against Benin. A special shirt specifically made for the match was unveiled two days prior.

Match

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GK 23 Emiliano Martínez RB 4 Agustín Giay CB 19 Nicolás Otamendi Template:Yel Template:Suboff CB 13 Cristian Romero Template:Suboff LB 3 Nicolás Tagliafico Template:Suboff CM 8 Enzo Fernández Template:Suboff CM 20 Alexis Mac Allister Template:Suboff CM 7 Rodrigo De Paul Template:Suboff RF 10 Lionel Messi (c) CF 22 Lautaro Martínez Template:Suboff LF 9 Julián Alvarez Template:Suboff Substitutions: DF 6 Lisandro Martínez Template:Subon DF 25 Facundo Medina Template:Subon MF 18 Nico Paz Template:Subon FW 15 Nico González Template:Subon FW 31 Leonel Flores Template:Subon MF 11 Giovani Lo Celso Template:Subon MF 14 Exequiel Palacios Template:Subon FW 30 Franco Mastantuono Template:Subon Manager: Template:Country data ARG Lionel Scaloni

GK 1 Marcel Dandjinou Template:Suboff RB 2 Liam Omore CB 5 Yohan Roche Template:Suboff CB 13 Mohamed Tijani Template:Yel LB 3 Tamimou Ouorou Template:Suboff CM 15 Sessi D'Almeida (c) CM 8 Hassane Imourane Template:Suboff RW 17 Rodolfo Aloko Template:Suboff AM 18 Junior Olaitan Template:Suboff LW 11 Yamirou Ouorou Template:Suboff CF 10 Aiyegun Tosin Template:Suboff Substitutions: MF 7 Mattéo Ahlinvi Template:Subon MF 19 Junior Olugbadé Template:Subon DF 12 Charlemagne Azongnitode Template:Subon FW 20 Jodel Dossou Template:Subon GK 16 Saturnin Allagbé Template:Subon DF 4 Amiro Amadou Template:Subon DF 22 Attidjikou Samadou Template:Subon FW 6 Sahid Ngobi Template:Subon Manager: Template:Country data GER Gernot Rohr