Messi set for emotional farewell from Argentina

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Lionel Messi is set to make his final appearance for Argentina on Tuesday, ending a 21-year international career with a farewell friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires' Estadio Monumental.

Around 85,000 supporters are expected to attend the match as the 39-year-old prepares to wear Argentina's famous sky blue and white jersey for the last time. Millions more are expected to watch the farewell from home.

Argentina's most capped player announced his international retirement in August, saying he had given everything and that emerging young players deserved an opportunity. He attended his final training session with the national team on Monday at the Ezeiza complex.

Messi remains contracted to Inter Miami until 2028, but after the death of his father Jorge two months ago, he said he could potentially end his club career earlier than expected.

The farewell match will also mark the beginning of Argentina's post-Messi era. Several players who helped the team reach the top in Qatar, including Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez, are expected to take on bigger roles. Romero will receive the captain's armband after Messi's departure.

Coach Lionel Scaloni has said Argentina must find a way to replace the influence of its long-time captain. The team's recent performances have offered encouragement, with Argentina beating Bolivia 4-0 and Burkina Faso 7-0. Franco Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni scored their first international goals in the latter match.

The victories helped ease the disappointment of Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain, where Messi and his teammates struggled against their opponents and several players later received suspensions and fines.

Messi leaves Argentina as the country's record appearance maker and top scorer, with 207 matches, 125 goals and 68 assists. His greatest achievement came in 2022, when he led Argentina to their first World Cup title in 36 years and strengthened his place alongside Diego Maradona in Argentine football history.

During his international career, Argentina also won the 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2008 Olympic tournament and the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship.

His career with Argentina also included painful defeats, including the 2014 World Cup final against Germany, the 2016 Copa America final loss to Chile and this year's World Cup final defeat to Spain.

One question remains unanswered: who will inherit Argentina's iconic number 10 shirt? Scaloni said the number would remain with Messi until his final match, before the team decides what happens next.