Lionel Messi will play his final match for the Argentina national team on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, in a friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed that ticket sales for this historic fixture will begin this Tuesday, September 22, at 18:00 local time via Deportick, the official platform used since the Qatar 2022 World Cup victory.

The purchasing process requires email registration, selection of quantity and seat location, choice of payment method, and payment of a service fee. After purchase, buyers will receive an email with a specific date and time to collect physical tickets at a designated point. Massive demand is expected to farewell the team's all-time top scorer, who has netted 125 goals and won the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2025 Copa América, and the 2022 Finalissima.

Messi announced his international retirement in late October 2026, shortly after the death of his father, Jorge, and following the defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. In a handwritten letter, the captain explained his decision. "Me vacié, ya no tengo más para dar y aparte vienen chicos muy grandes atrás que merecen estar." Messi wrote.

This match will be Messi's 208th cap for Argentina, and he will aim to add to his goal tally. The game is part of a three-match window organized by the AFA after the World Cup, which includes a fixture against Bolivia in Córdoba and another against Burkina Faso, also at the Monumental.

Alongside Messi, defender Nicolás Otamendi will also play his final match for Argentina. Also, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are very likely to retire from the national team after this cycle, though they have not made an official announcement. Messi heads into this farewell as the season's top scorer, with 8 goals in 8 appearances, according to our stats data. The team's last result was a 1-0 loss to Spain in July, but their recent form of four wins in the last five games shows a competitive unit. The full squad for this final stretch is available on the squad page.

The farewell match window will serve as a transition for a new generation, while the team maintains its lead in World Cup qualifying. The team's next fixture after the Benin friendly will be a World Cup qualifier against Burkina Faso on October 10, according to our fixtures calendar.

The original report is at La Nacion AR Deportes