Argentina are preparing for an emotional night as Lionel Messi gets set to wear the national team shirt for the final time.
The 39-year-old captain will make his farewell appearance against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, bringing the curtain down on an extraordinary international career that has shaped an entire era of Argentine football.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni admits Messi’s departure will leave a huge void, but he is confident the world champions have enough quality to remain among the game’s leading nations.
Messi’s final appearance is expected to become a celebration of his remarkable contribution to the Albiceleste, with members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad invited to the Monumental for the occasion.
His international career includes the 2022 World Cup, Copa América triumphs in 2021 and 2024, Olympic gold in 2008 and two further World Cup final appearances.
Messi also leaves as Argentina’s record goalscorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 208 senior appearances.
For Scaloni, however, replacing Messi is not simply about finding another player to wear the famous No. 10 shirt.
“Messi leaves behind something unequaled,” Scaloni said. “We have to keep playing, but the feeling of having him on the pitch is unique. I’ve never seen anyone else convey what he does on a football field, and that is what we’re going to miss.”
Despite the understandable emotion surrounding Messi’s departure, Scaloni believes Argentina’s future remains bright.
“The Argentine national team will endure. We will remain at a high level, I have no doubt about that.”
That confidence has been strengthened by what Argentina have shown since Messi was absent from their latest matches.
The Albiceleste produced convincing victories over Bolivia and Burkina Faso, winning 4-0 and 7-0 respectively. While the opposition did not carry the same weight as Argentina’s biggest international rivals, the performances provided an early glimpse of life beyond their legendary captain.
Established stars such as Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernández and Lautaro Martínez remain central to the team’s plans, while a new generation is beginning to attract attention.
Nico Paz and Franco Mastantuono have impressed in midfield, while Gianluca Prestianni and Leonel Flores have added further attacking options.
Messi arrived in his hometown of Rosario with his family on Friday before joining the national team squad on Sunday for the final stages of preparation.
He has also been joined in training by Nicolás Otamendi, who has already announced his international retirement following the 2026 World Cup, as well as Giovani Lo Celso and Rodrigo De Paul.
Nearly the entire 2022 World Cup-winning squad is expected to attend the farewell at the Monumental, although Paulo Dybala, Nahuel Molina and Alejandro Gómez will not be present.
Scaloni has also highlighted the example Messi has set away from the spotlight, praising the standards maintained by Argentina’s captain throughout his international career.
“Only nostalgia remains now that he won’t be there,” Scaloni said. “He is an incredible example. The first to arrive, the last to leave, how he takes care of himself, how he faces each game.
“You can see he is a phenomenon just by how he plays, but he has things behind him that his teammates see, and he is the best example there can be.
“He has left — or is leaving, because he has one more game — something incomparable.”
Argentina’s next major test without Messi will come at the 2028 Copa América.
By then, the national team will have to build a new identity without the player who has been at the centre of its biggest moments for more than two decades.
But before that future begins, Argentina have one final night with Messi.
And for Scaloni, his players and an entire nation, it promises to be a farewell filled with emotion, memories and gratitude for a player who changed the history of the Albiceleste.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
