Legendary footballer Lionel Messi will play his last international match for Argentina as the 2022 World Champions take on Benin in a friendly. Where to watch the Argentina vs Benin international friendly match?
Argentina will take on the West African nation of Benin in a friendly game at the Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. This is the last match for both sides in the ongoing international break in the football calendar.
ARG Vs BEN Live: Where To Watch Argentina Vs Benin Match?
Lionel Messi’s retirement game comes two months after what many believed would be his final game in the blue and white of Argentina. The 29-year-old led his nation to their second FIFA World Cup final appearance in a row. However, while they won back in 2022 against France, they could not overcome the mighty Spain in the final in 2026, losing 1-0.
Mere days after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, the Barcelona legend announced his retirement from international football. His age, coupled with a World Cup final defeat and the passing of his father, who played a major role in his football journey, led Lionel to announce that he would be stepping away from the international game.
Messi, who is considered by many the greatest footballer of all time, made his international debut 21 years ago on August 17, 2005, against Hungary at the age of 18.
In the subsequent two decades, Leo Messi played 207 matches for the Albiceleste, in which he scored 125 goals and assisted 65. He is currently second on the list of highest goal scorers in men’s international football of all time, right behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He also has the most g/a in international men’s football.
Messi will leave international football with several accolades under his belt. In the 2010s, when he rose to becoming one of the all-time greats, much of his success came in league football. For Argentina, while he played several Copa América finals and even the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, he only had the 2008 Olympics gold medal to his name.
That all changed in 2021, when Lionel Messi led his national team to a Copa América triumph. Then, in 2022, they won the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, defeating France on penalties in the final in what was arguably the greatest game of football ever. Leo and Argentina then made it three trophies on the trot, as they won the 2025 Copa America, and barely missed out on a fourth, losing the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The ARG vs BEN friendly football match, which will be Lionel Messi’s farewell match for Argentina, will be played in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The match will be streamed live on ZEE5 and will have no live TV broadcast in India. The match will be played on Wednesday, October 7, at 4:30 AM IST (8:00 PM on October 6 local time).
Argentina is one of the best international teams in world football, currently ranked second in FIFA rankings. Meanwhile, Benin has never played in the FIFA World Cup and is currently ranked 89th in the world.
This will not only be Lionel Messi’s farewell match but will also be the final appearance for veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi in the Argentine jersey. And if reports are to be believed, midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso too might be playing their last international game for the Albiceleste.
Check Out: Where To Watch Argentina Vs Benin
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