Lionel Messi to Play Farewell Match for Argentina on October 6

AFA President Claudio Tapia announced on social media, "We invited the best player in the world to play, the icon of our selection, our captain Lionel Andres Messi, to have a deserved farewell on October 6, here in Argentina."

The match will take place at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, as part of three home friendlies during the FIFA international window from September 21 to October 6. Messi, who announced his retirement last month, will participate in this match, marking his final appearance for the national team.

Prior to the match against Benin on October 6, Argentina will play Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Cordoba, and Burkina Faso on October 3 in Buenos Aires. The match against Bolivia will have its capacity reduced by 50% due to FIFA sanctions stemming from incidents during the recent World Cup.

Footballers including Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Giovani Lo Celso are set to play in the farewell match on October 6. The AFA will announce further names of players called up from the local league on Friday. Additionally, players Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, and Thiago Almada will serve suspensions of 10, seven, and one match respectively for their involvement in an altercation after the World Cup final against Spain.

The proposed squad includes goalkeepers Emiliano Martinez, Juan Musso, and Geronimo Rulli; defenders Agustin Giay, Leonardo Balerdi, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Juan Foyth, Facundo Medina, Nicolas Tagliafico, and Roman Vega; midfielders Enzo Fernandez, Alexis Mac Allister, Valentin Barco, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Rodrigo De Paul, Nicolas Paz, and Franco Mastantuono; and forwards Matias Soule, Giuliano Simeone, Nicolas Gonzalez, Gianluca Prestianni, Jose Manuel Lopez, Santiago Castro, Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, and Lionel Messi.