Lionel Messi will make his final international appearance for Argentina in a friendly match against Benin at the Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, kicking off at 8:00 p.m. local time. The 39-year-old forward announced his retirement on August 31, concluding a 21-year career with the national team where he remains the record goalscorer with 125 goals in 208 appearances.

Global broadcast coverage for the match includes ViX and Prime Video in the United States, Premier Sports 2 in the United Kingdom, L'Equipe in France, and GE TV in Brazil. Messi's historic career includes the 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, an Olympic gold medal in 2008, and the distinction of being the first man to start three World Cup finals.

The Argentina Football Association has designated the fixture "The Night That No One Wants to End," inviting nearly the entire 2022 World Cup-winning squad to attend alongside thousands of expected fans. Coach Lionel Scaloni praised the departing captain, stating, "Messi leaves behind something unequaled.

I've never seen anyone else convey what he does on a football field." While concluding his national team duty, Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami under a contract running through the 2028 season.