Argentina vs Benin: Messi’s Final Albiceleste Match Draws Tributes

Lionel Messi is set to play his final match for Argentina against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The appearance will close more than two decades with the Albiceleste and give the captain one last opportunity to wear the national shirt in front of his home supporters. Messi, who plays for Inter Miami, enters the match with 207 caps and 125 goals for Argentina. His 208th appearance will also bring an international chapter that includes the country’s most important modern successes to an end.

The farewell comes after a career in which Messi became Argentina’s leading figure across several generations. He has won the Copa América twice with the national team and led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title. Those achievements changed the context of his international career after years of pressure and disappointment. His final match will therefore be both a sporting occasion and a public celebration of the trophies, records and moments that defined his relationship with Argentina.

Ronaldinho, Messi’s former Barcelona team-mate, was among the figures to send a message before the match. The Brazilian described Messi as his “brother” and reflected on the shared dream of representing a country through football. He also referred to the importance of family in decisions about the next stage of life and urged Messi to enjoy what comes next. Their connection began at Barcelona, where Ronaldinho was an established star during Messi’s emergence.

Neymar also paid tribute to the player with whom he shared some of Barcelona’s most memorable years. His message thanked Messi for everything he had given to football and for the history they made together. “It’s not only Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you have done for football,” Neymar wrote. He added that playing alongside Messi had been an honour and said Messi had made him love the sport even more. Neymar also acknowledged the unusual privilege of facing Messi before becoming his team-mate.

The friendship between the two Brazilians and Messi was formed during Barcelona’s most prominent period in the reports. Neymar’s message looked beyond their club partnership and focused on Messi’s wider influence on football. He said that people who love the game had followed Messi throughout his career and wished him happiness during every second of his final match. The words placed the Argentine’s farewell in a global context rather than limiting it to the national team’s supporters.

Arturo Vidal offered another perspective. The Chilean played alongside Messi at Barcelona and also faced him repeatedly in South American football. Chile’s meetings with Argentina gave Vidal first-hand experience of the challenge posed by Messi, including during Copa América encounters. “Today you play your last match for your country, my friend, I wish you always the best,” Vidal wrote. He called Messi the “best in history” and added a reference to the Argentine’s extraordinary status in the game.

Luka Modric’s tribute came from a different football relationship. The Croatia midfielder has often competed against Messi at the highest level, including in matches where the Argentine’s influence was decisive. After Croatia’s 2-1 defeat by Spain in the Nations League, Modric still found time to address Messi’s departure from international football. “It is a shame that he is retiring,” Modric said, adding that watching Messi play had been a pleasure but that he had “suffered a lot” when facing him. His comments captured the respect of a long-time rival.

The scale of the tributes reflects Messi’s standing beyond Argentina’s results. Ronaldinho spoke as a former team-mate and friend, Neymar as a close colleague from Barcelona, and Vidal and Modric as opponents who also experienced his ability from inside the game. Together, their messages cover the main relationships of Messi’s career: the players who shared a dressing room with him, those who competed against him, and the footballers who saw his influence across continents.

The match against Benin will be Messi’s final appearance for the Albiceleste, with the Monumental providing the setting for the farewell. He will leave international football as an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Argentina’s record scorer with 125 goals in the figures available for the match, a two-time Copa América champion and a World Cup winner. The farewell will close his national-team story after 208 appearances, while the messages from former team-mates and rivals have already marked the significance of the occasion.