Lionel Messi is set to wear the Albiceleste shirt one final time after being included in Argentina’s squad for an upcoming home friendly against Benin on October 6. The call-up comes just weeks after the iconic forward announced his retirement from international football on August 31, 2026. Designed as a grand tribute on home soil, the fixture at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires will give supporters an opportunity to bid farewell to their long-serving captain in person.

The match will serve as the climax of an international window organized by the Argentine Football Association. Argentina will begin the series against Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba, before returning to River Plate’s stadium in Buenos Aires to face Burkina Faso on October 3. The team will then conclude the schedule against Benin three days later.

Although Messi has been included in the squad announcement, the AFA clarified that he, along with midfielders Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, will join the team only for the final clash against Benin on October 6. The trio will not take part in the earlier fixtures.

The decision to include Messi stands out as the defining detail of the squad announcement, turning the October 6 match into an emotional celebration of his national-team career. AFA president Claudio Tapia said the invitation was intended to give Argentina’s captain the farewell he deserves. Messi leaves the national team as its most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer, having guided his country to major honors including the Copa América and the 2022 World Cup.

Although his international career is coming to an end, Messi’s playing career will continue at club level with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. For Argentine fans, however, the October 6 encounter against Benin is expected to provide the final opportunity to watch their captain represent the national team on home soil.