Messi included in Argentina squad for planned farewell against Benin

Lionel Messi has been included in Argentina’s 28-man squad for three home friendlies, including a planned farewell match against Benin in Buenos Aires on 6 October.

The Argentine Football Association has described the Benin fixture at the Estadio Monumental as a farewell for Messi, who reportedly announced his international retirement after a 21-year spell with Argentina.

Association president Claudio Tapia said Messi had accepted the invitation, but Messi himself has not publicly confirmed whether he will join the squad or appear in the match. The fixture should therefore be treated as a planned farewell rather than a confirmed final appearance.

Argentina’s schedule begins with Bolivia in Córdoba on 30 September, followed by Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on 3 October. The team will then face Benin at the Estadio Monumental three days later.

Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title. The future of coach Lionel Scaloni is also uncertain, with his contract due to expire in December.