Lionel Messi’s remarkable international career appears to be moving towards its final chapter, with 6 October emerging as the potential date for his last appearance in Argentina’s blue-and-white shirt. For supporters who have followed his journey through years of triumphs, setbacks and historic moments, the prospect of seeing him play for the national side one final time carries particular significance.
According to a post published on the verified Facebook page of Italian journalist and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Messi is expected to feature for Argentina in a friendly against Benin on 6 October. The match is scheduled to take place at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has included Messi in the squad selected for the fixture. His presence in the squad has strengthened expectations that the meeting with Benin could become the final international appearance of the veteran forward.
Romano described the occasion as Messi’s ‘last dance’, saying the match would allow him to bid farewell to Argentina supporters. The report comes after Messi recently announced his decision to retire from international football, prompting widespread discussion over when he would officially bring his national-team career to an end.
Messi’s relationship with Argentina has been shaped by both extraordinary success and difficult periods. Early in his international career, he faced considerable pressure to reproduce the form he showed at club level for the national side. Argentina reached major tournament finals during his career but experienced painful defeats, leaving Messi and his team-mates under intense scrutiny.
The narrative changed significantly in the latter part of his international career. Messi captained Argentina to the Copa América title before leading the team to the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar. The World Cup victory was especially significant, completing one of the most important achievements of his career with the national team.
That success also transformed the atmosphere surrounding Messi whenever he wore Argentina colours. The forward, who had spent years carrying enormous expectations, became the central figure of a team that delivered major international silverware. His performances and leadership during that period cemented his place as one of the defining figures in Argentina’s modern football history.
Against that backdrop, a possible farewell at the Monumental would carry an emotional weight that goes well beyond the outcome of a friendly match. Supporters are unlikely to view the fixture simply as another entry on Argentina’s international calendar. Instead, attention would centre on the possibility of watching Messi represent his country for the final time.
The Monumental, one of Argentina’s most prominent football grounds, could provide the setting for that farewell. If Messi takes to the pitch against Benin, the occasion may become a celebration of his long association with the national team, as well as an opportunity for supporters to acknowledge a career filled with defining moments.
Since his retirement announcement, Argentine fans have been waiting for clarity over the timing of his final match. Romano’s report has now provided a possible answer, with 6 October and the Benin friendly emerging as the expected occasion.
However, the fixture should not yet be treated as an absolutely confirmed final appearance. Squad selections, match arrangements or Messi’s participation could still change before the date. At present, his inclusion in Scaloni’s squad and Romano’s report are the basis for the expectation surrounding the match.
If the plans remain unchanged, 6 October could become an especially memorable date for Argentina supporters. At the Monumental, the focus may extend beyond the scoreline, as fans prepare for the possibility of seeing Messi in the blue-and-white shirt for the last time and witnessing the closing moments of an extraordinary international career.
