The curtain is officially falling on one of the most legendary international careers in sports history as Lionel Messi prepares for his final appearance in the iconic sky-blue-and-white shirt of Argentina.
After leading La Albiceleste through more than two decades of international action, the 39-year-old captain will wear the national team jersey for the last time on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, in a specially arranged farewell match against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Key highlights of Messi’s Argentina career
All-Time Scorer: Messi finishes as Argentina’s all-time record goalscorer with 125 goals and the most caps in the nation’s history.
Peak Glory: Capped his international legacy by lifting the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, alongside back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024.
Final World Cup Run: Helped lead Argentina back to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they finished as runners-up to Spain.
No. 10 Jersey Tribute: Messi will don a uniquely designed No. 10 jersey for his final match. Head coach Lionel Scaloni noted that no player will inherit the legendary shirt until after Messi’s farewell match.
2022 World Cup Squad Reunion: The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has invited members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad to attend the Monumental ceremony to celebrate Messi’s historic contribution to Argentine football.
While Messi continues his club career under contract with Inter Miami, Tuesday’s emotional night in Buenos Aires marks the absolute end of an era for the national team.
