'God of Football,' Farewell! Messi, Final Call-Up for Argentina National Team... Farewell Match vs. Benin on October 6; "Inviting All 2022 World Cup Champions"

*This content was translated by AI.

The schedule for Lionel Messi's (39, Inter Miami) farewell match with the Argentina national team has been confirmed.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced on the 15th (local time) a roster of players called up for friendly matches in October, including Messi. The farewell match will be an exhibition game against Benin on October 6 at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Claudio Tapia, AFA president, stated, "We invited Messi, the symbol of the world's best Seon Su-i-ja (CEO) team, to say his final goodbye in Argentina." All members of the 2022 Qatar World Cup-winning squad have been invited to play alongside Messi in today's match.

Earlier, on the 1st, Messi officially announced his retirement from the national team by posting a handwritten letter on social media (SNS). He said, "It is a painful decision that hurts my soul, but I have given everything and have nothing left to give," expressing his intention to make way for younger players.

Messi explained that he wrote the retirement statement on July 21, immediately after the 2026 North American World Cup final, and that the recent death of his father was a decisive factor in solidifying his decision to retire.

Debuting for the Seong In (CEO) team in 2005, Messi played 207 international matches over more than two decades, scoring 125 goals and providing 68 assists, setting records for most appearances and top scorer in Argentina's history.

He led the team to victory in the 2022 Qatar World Cup and won Copa America twice (2021 and 2024). Additionally, he appeared in five World Cups, scoring 13 goals, and became the first player in World Cup history to win the Golden Ball award twice (2014 and 2022). He also received the Ballon d'Or, awarded to the world's best player, a total of eight times.

The Lee Beon (CEO) team was assembled for the first time since the 2026 North American World Cup. Argentina will play friendly matches against Bolivia in Cordoba on September 30 and Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3, followed by a three-match series against Benin on the 6th.

Meanwhile, Leandro Paredes (10-game suspension), Nahuel Molina (7-game suspension), and Thiago Almada (1-game suspension), who received suspensions following the 2026 World Cup final, were excluded from this call-up roster.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.