Messi Ready for Farewell Match

Sports Desk

A golden chapter is finally coming to an end. Lionel Messi will end his illustrious international career with Argentina in a friendly against Benin on Tuesday. The 39-year-old magician will play his last game for the Albiceleste at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, marking the beginning of a new era for the South American champions.

After more than two decades of service to his country, Messi is handing over the captain’s armband for good. He will be joined by 85,000 fans and several of his teammates from the Qatar World Cup in the farewell match. Argentina’s rising generation of footballers will also be there. The friendly match is a symbolic passing of the baton, with the world-winning superstar holding a World Cup, two Copa Americas and a Finalisima trophy in his hands.
Messi is leaving as Argentina’s most capped player and top scorer in history. He has scored 125 goals in 207 matches for the national team and has a record 68 assists. He is leaving two and a half months after losing the World Cup final to Spain in New Jersey.

Announcing his retirement from international football last August, Messi wrote, “I have given my all; there is nothing left to give. Besides, there are some great young footballers coming up who deserve a chance.”

Although he has a contract with Inter Miami until 2028, Messi said after the death of his father Jorge two months ago that he might say goodbye to all forms of football before he thought.

Messi will be joined by members of the Qatar 2022 World Cup-winning team and their families in Tuesday’s farewell match against Benin, the world’s 93rd-ranked team. Doha triumph hero Angel Di Maria—who will retire from international football in 2024—will also be present to witness the moment the baton is passed to a new generation.

Some of the team’s newcomers, such as Franco Mastantuino and Lionel Flores, were not even born when Messi, known as ‘La Pulga’ (the little fly), made his debut in 2005.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said of the farewell match: “It’s going to be an unforgettable day for everyone. Everyone wants to be here, and now it’s time to just enjoy the moment.”

The Argentina team has begun to show its strength without its captain. However, Scaloni believes that filling the void left by the greatest footballer of all time will not be easy, “As a team, we will try to fill the void left by Leo.”

Alongside Messi, 38-year-old vice-captain Nicolas Otamendi will also be leaving the team on Tuesday. Rodrigo de Paul and Giovani Lo Celso have also been called up for the Benin match only, suggesting that this could be their last match in an Argentina jersey.

However, those who are going to be the leaders of Argentina after Messi include defender Cristian Romero, midfielders Alexis McAllister and Enzo Fernandez, and forwards Julián Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez. Led by Messi from the beginning, these young players will have the main responsibility on their shoulders. Tough defender Cristian Romero is going to get the armband that Messi wore in the 2010 South Africa World Cup. Goalkeepers Emiliano Martinez and Lautaro Martinez will be the co-captains.

The newcomers are already showing their hunger for victory. They kicked off their post-World Cup campaign with a 4-0 win over Bolivia in Cordoba on Wednesday, with goals from youngster Nico Paz and Jose Manuel Lopez. Argentina then thrashed Burkina Faso 7-0 in Monumental on Saturday.

Even as the new Argentina is formed, one big question still remains – who will wear Messi’s historic number 10 jersey? Scaloni said, “We are not giving the number 10 jersey to anyone until Leo’s match is over. Then we will see.”