Lionel Messi Arrives in Argentina for Farewell Match Against Benin

Lionel Messi has arrived in Argentina ahead of his farewell game for the national team, as the country prepares to say goodbye to its captain on home soil. The 39-year-old landed on Friday and is scheduled to feature in a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. It will be his final appearance for the country he led to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title.

A Homecoming in Rosario

Messi travelled from Miami on a private jet with his family and touched down in his hometown of Rosario, around 300 kilometres north of Buenos Aires. His arrival comes just over a month after he announced his international retirement on August 31. The news prompted emotional tributes from fans, many of whom hailed him as Argentina’s greatest of all time.

The Argentine Football Association has said the purpose of the fixture is to give the best player in the world the home send-off he deserves. For a player who has spent much of his international career performing in front of supporters across the globe, the match offers a rare chance to celebrate with his own people.

A Record-Breaking Legacy

Messi departs as Argentina’s record appearance maker with 207 caps and its all-time leading scorer with 125 goals. He guided the team to three World Cup finals, a run that culminated in victory in Qatar in 2022, cementing his place among the greatest footballers the sport has seen.

With the farewell now days away, attention in Argentina is firmly fixed on Buenos Aires. Tuesday’s friendly against Benin may be a low-stakes fixture on paper, but it carries enormous emotional weight as the closing chapter of an international career that defined a generation of Argentine football.