Lionel Messi will say goodbye to the Argentina national team on Tuesday, Oct. 6 in what promises to be an emotional night in Buenos Aires.
Argentina will play Benin in a friendly at Estadio Monumental, but the actual match will be a sideshow compared to the spectacle of the legendary figure's final international game.
Messi announced his international retirement in August, but Argentina has called the 39-year-old up one final time to get a send-off in front of his home fans.
"I want to tell you that after a chat we had with the manager of the national team, Lionel Scaloni, we've made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the emblem of our national team, our captain Lionel Andres Messi so he is able to have the goodbye he really deserves
on Oct. 6 here in Argentina," Argentina Football Association president Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia said last month.
Watch Argentina vs. Benin on ViX
Messi's farewell match will include other players from the 2022 World Cup winning team and their families.
Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso were named on Scaloni's roster but will only attend the Oct. 6 match for the tributes.
Argentina has already played two matches this international window, beating Bolivia 4-0 and Burkina Faso 7-0.
Messi will bow out as Argentina's record scorer with 125 goals and record appearance-maker with 207 caps.
“It’s going to be an unforgettable day for everyone. Everyone wants to be at this match, and now it’s just about enjoying it,” Scaloni said.
Argentina vs. Benin prediction, pick
Argentina has far more quality than Benin and will be extra motivated to send Messi off on a high.
Prediction: Argentina 4, Benin 0
Argentina vs. Benin channel, start time, streaming
- When: Tuesday, Oct. 6
- Where: Estadio Monumental (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
- Time: 7 p.m. ET
- Channel/streaming: ViX (Watch on Prime Video)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Argentina vs. Benin start time, how to watch as Lionel Messi says farewell
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