Argentina vs Benin was an international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin that was held at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on 6 October 2026. Argentina won the match 3–0. Billed as "The Last Tango", it was the farewell game and last international match for Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, after announcing his retirement from the national team on 31 August 2026 after losing the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Messi was called up by the national team for his last international match and his farewell game in an international friendly against Benin. His international team mate from 2009, Nicolas Otamendi, also played his last match for the Argentina national football team that day.
Background
Lionel Messi Messi began playing for the senior national team of Argentina at the age of 18. At 24 years old, Messi became the captain for the national team. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, Argentina lost to Germany 1–0. In the 2015 Copa América final and 2016 Copa América Centenario final, Argentina lost to Chile two times in a row. Losing three consecutive international finals caused Messi to retire from international football, but a nationwide campaign in Argentina helped convince him to return to the national team to lead them for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, in which they lost to France 4–3, in the Round of 16. Since then, Messi led Argentina to victory after a 28-year trophy drought in the 2021 Copa América in which Argentina defeated Brazil in the final, giving Messi's first international trophy for Argentina. Messi led the nation to their first World Cup victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 36 years, and led Argentina to another win in the 2024 Copa América. Messi led the nation to its second consecutive World Cup final in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in which they lost to Spain in extra-time. On 31 August 2026, Messi announced his final retirement from the national team, however, he was called up again for his farewell match against Benin. A special shirt specifically made for the match was unveiled two days prior.
Match
GK 23Emiliano MartínezRB 4 Agustín GiayCB 19Nicolás Otamendi CB 13Cristian Romero LB 3 Nicolás Tagliafico CM 8 Enzo Fernández CM 20Alexis Mac Allister CM 7 Rodrigo De Paul RF 10Lionel Messi (c)CF 22Lautaro Martínez LF 9 Julián Alvarez Substitutions:DF 6 Lisandro Martínez DF 25Facundo Medina MF 18Nico Paz FW 15Nico González FW 31Leonel Flores MF 11Giovani Lo Celso MF 14Exequiel Palacios FW 30Franco Mastantuono Manager:Lionel Scaloni GK 1 Marcel Dandjinou RB 2 Liam OmoreCB 5 Yohan Roche CB 13Mohamed Tijani LB 3 Tamimou Ouorou CM 15Sessi D'Almeida (c)CM 8 Hassane Imourane RW 17Rodolfo Aloko AM 18Junior Olaitan LW 11Yamirou Ouorou CF 10Aiyegun Tosin Substitutions:MF 7 Mattéo Ahlinvi MF 19Junior Olugbadé DF 12Charlemagne Azongnitode FW 20Jodel Dossou GK 16Saturnin Allagbé DF 4 Amiro Amadou DF 22Attidjikou Samadou FW 6 Sahid Ngobi Manager: Gernot Rohr
References