Lionel Messi is preparing to make his final appearance in an Argentina shirt, bringing an emotional chapter of international football closer to its end. As the Argentina captain approaches his farewell, a new generation of stars is preparing to take centre stage, with Kylian Mbappé, Lamine Yamal and Harry Kane among those carrying major expectations.
Cristiano Ronaldo, meanwhile, continues to pursue the extraordinary milestone of 1,000 career goals, while Erling Haaland remains focused on maintaining his prolific scoring record.
Messi announced his retirement from international football earlier this month. He is expected to play his final match for Argentina against Benin in a friendly in Buenos Aires on 6 October. If the fixture goes ahead as planned, it will provide the 39-year-old with the opportunity to end his international career in front of his home supporters.
Messi’s international journey has already produced some of the most significant moments in Argentina’s football history. He led the country to World Cup glory and added major international honours to a career that had already established him among the game’s most decorated players.
His final World Cup appearance was expected to come at the age of 39. Argentina’s attempt to retain the trophy ended with a 1-0 defeat by Spain in the final at MetLife Stadium. The result also ended hopes of winning the World Cup in successive editions and of matching the achievement associated with Brazil legend Pelé.
Despite his strong performances at the tournament, Messi’s decision to retire from international football was not entirely unexpected. His scheduled farewell in Buenos Aires now offers him the chance to close that chapter before supporters who have followed his career with Argentina for more than two decades.
Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, has described the occasion as a farewell Messi deserves.
A New Generation Enters the Ballon d’Or Race
While Messi prepares to step away, the conversation around the world’s leading players is increasingly centred on a younger generation.
Mbappé, Yamal and Kane are among the prominent names in the Ballon d’Or discussion, with performances at international level forming part of the wider assessment of their seasons. Messi himself is also included among the nominees, making the transition between generations particularly striking.
The emerging rivalry between Mbappé and Yamal has attracted comparisons with the long-running Messi-Ronaldo era. Mbappé represents Real Madrid, while Yamal plays for Barcelona, adding another layer to a rivalry between two of Spain’s most successful and historic clubs.
For more than a decade, the Ballon d’Or conversation was closely associated with Messi and Ronaldo, whose individual achievements and club rivalry dominated the award’s history. The emergence of Yamal and Mbappé has opened the door to a new phase.
Yamal, aged just 19, has already established himself among the most prominent young players in world football. He has won the World Cup with Spain and the Spanish league title with Barcelona, strengthening his credentials at both international and club level.
Yamal has acknowledged that comparisons between elite players ultimately revolve around performances and trophies. He has pointed to Spain’s World Cup triumph as a factor in his own case.
Mbappé, meanwhile, did not win a second World Cup but set a new tournament scoring record, taking his World Cup tally to 22 goals. His international career remains one of the defining stories of the post-Messi generation.
Kane, Ronaldo and Haaland Remain in Focus
Harry Kane is another established forward whose performances continue to attract attention. He won the Golden Shoe as Europe’s leading scorer last season and has maintained an impressive scoring rate this term, registering six goals in seven matches.
England are due to face world champions Spain at Wembley in the Nations League on Saturday, giving Kane another high-profile international test.
France are also entering a new phase under head coach Zinedine Zidane. Their Nations League meeting with Italy on 2 October is expected to be one of the most closely watched fixtures of the international window.
For Ronaldo, the focus is more personal. The Portugal captain is continuing his pursuit of 1,000 career goals, a landmark that would add another extraordinary achievement to an already record-filled career.
Haaland, meanwhile, remains one of the most dangerous goal scorers of his generation. His continued presence at the highest level ensures that the next era of international football will not lack a prolific attacking figure.
Messi’s farewell therefore arrives at a significant moment. One of football’s defining careers is approaching its final international chapter, while Mbappé, Yamal, Kane, Ronaldo and Haaland represent different stages of the generation that will continue to shape the game after his departure.
