Lionel Messi will wear the Argentina shirt for the final time on Tuesday, October 6, when the Albiceleste host Benin in an international friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The match, billed as «The Last Tango,» closes a international career that began more than two decades ago and ends with Messi as his country's most capped player and all-time leading scorer.
A Farewell Two Decades in the Making
Tuesday's friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires brings a curtain down on a legendary international career that delivered two Copa America titles, a World Cup and unmatched greatness. His farewell comes two and a half months after Argentina's ill-tempered World Cup final defeat to Spain in New Jersey, where Messi exited in tears after making little impression.
Messi's decision followed a difficult personal stretch. On announcing his retirement in the weeks after his father's passing, he said he had "nothing left to give". Argentina's federation moved quickly to organize a proper send-off, with AFA president Claudio Tapia explaining the federation wanted its captain to have the farewell he truly deserves on October 6 here in Argentina.
This is not the first time Messi has stepped away from international duty. He previously announced his international retirement in 2016 after a heartbreaking Copa América Centenario final loss to Chile, in which he missed a decisive penalty, before reversing that decision months later.
Why Benin, of All Opponents?
Benin arrive in Buenos Aires as a modest footballing power. Members of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families will join Messi for Tuesday's farewell against Benin, ranked 93rd in the world. Coached by former Nigeria boss Gernot Rohr and captained by ex-Huddersfield Town striker Steve Mounie, Benin are ranked No. 89 by FIFA — a way's off from Argentina's No. 2 spot.
The opponent matters less than the occasion. Veterans of the Doha triumph, such as Angel Di Maria, who retired from international football in 2024, will be there to witness the passing of the torch to a new generation. Head coach Lionel Scaloni, who is negotiating his own future with the federation, summed up the mood ahead of kickoff: "Collectively, we will try to fill the void left by Leo."
How to Watch in the United States
Kickoff and Venue
This international friendly match takes place at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires and kicks off on Tuesday, October 6 at 8 p.m. local time. In US time zones, that means 7 p.m. Eastern, 6 p.m. Central, 5 p.m. Mountain and 4 p.m. Pacific. Officials say all 85,000 seats at Monumental Stadium have been sold, with thousands of other fans expected to pack the surrounding streets.
TV Channel and Streaming
Fans in the US won't find the match on traditional television. The game is only available to watch in Spanish exclusively streaming on ViX, with no dedicated English-language TV channel. Those who access ViX via Amazon Prime Video can use a seven-day free trial for new subscribers.
The Record Messi Leaves Behind
Messi bows out as Argentina's record appearance-maker and leading scorer with 125 goals in 207 games as well as a record 68 assists. The friendly marks a symbolic passing of the torch for a player whose international legacy includes a World Cup title, two Copa America crowns and the Finalissima.
Statistically, Messi remained elite to the very end. He ended the World Cup with 7.91 non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists, more than 10 percent greater than second-placed Kylian Mbappé. That late-career form fueled debate about whether his dominance in MLS skewed perceptions, a question that followed him into his final Copa América and World Cup cycles.
Argentina's Build-Up to the Farewell
The Benin match caps a three-game October window designed around Messi's exit. Argentina opened the window with a win over Bolivia before thrashing Burkina Faso at the Monumental days later, with Messi rested for that contest after his earlier friendly against Bolivia. Tuesday's farewell is reserved entirely for saying goodbye.
What Comes Next for Messi
Retirement from the national team does not mean retirement from the sport. Messi remains focused on his club commitments in MLS, where he continues to anchor Inter Miami's push for silverware this season. There has been no indication from Messi or his camp that a club retirement is imminent, meaning fans in the US will keep watching him well beyond Tuesday's farewell in Buenos Aires.
For Argentina, the night also marks the start of a new era without its longtime captain. Scaloni's side, already crowned world champions in 2022 and runners-up in 2026, must now find a way to replace Messi's production on the pitch, even as his legacy as the sport's most decorated international player remains untouchable.