Argentina vs Benin

Argentina vs Benin: Messi's last match for Argentina

After 21 years, 207 caps and 125 goals, Lionel Messi wears the Argentina shirt one final time tonight at the Más Monumental in Buenos Aires.

ARGfriendlyBEN

Countdown to kickoff

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Tue 6 Oct, 20:00 in Buenos Aires. Wed 7 Oct, 04:00 in Pakistan.
In your time zone: 04:00 PKT, Wed 7 Oct

Live score and lineups Match preview

Why tonight matters

Argentina have scheduled plenty of friendlies against modest opposition over the years. This one is different because of who is leaving. Messi announced on 31 August 2026 that he was stepping away from the national team, 43 days after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final 1-0 to Spain in New Jersey. He wrote the farewell letter two days after that final, then held it back while his father, Jorge Messi, was seriously ill. Jorge died on 8 August.

The AFA built the evening around him. Most of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad has been invited, along with their families, and the match has been promoted in Argentina as "the night that no one wants to end." Abroad it is being sold as the Last Tango. Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso may also be making their final Argentina appearances, according to reports before the game.

Benin were not the obvious choice of opponent. The international window clashed with the Nations League and other qualifiers, which left the AFA with a short list of available teams. For Messi there is one small statistical prize on offer: he has scored against 44 different national teams, and Benin is not one of them.

The career this match closes

Messi made his senior debut on 17 August 2005 against Hungary in Budapest and was sent off within a minute of coming on. Two months earlier he had won the under-20 World Cup in the Netherlands, scoring both goals in the final and finishing as top scorer and best player. The years between were not smooth. Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final and the Copa América finals of 2015 and 2016, and after the 2016 defeat to Chile he quit the national team for the first time. He came back within months.

From 2021 the losses turned into titles: the Copa América in Brazil, the Finalissima against Italy at Wembley, the World Cup in Qatar and a second Copa América in 2024. At his sixth World Cup in 2026, aged 39, he scored eight goals and made four assists, finishing second in the Golden Boot race behind Kylian Mbappé, and reached a third World Cup final. Only Brazil's Cafu shares that record of three finals.

Explore the guide

Match centreLive score, scorers, lineups and Messi's minutes as the match happens. Where to watchTV channels and streams by country, and how to avoid fake streams. Kickoff time in your city4:00 AM PKT in Pakistan. Pick your city for an exact local time. Why Messi retiredThe full timeline from the World Cup final to the farewell. Argentina vs Benin previewKickoff in every time zone, venue, broadcasters and what to expect from the farewell. Every club Messi has played forNewell's Old Boys, Barcelona, PSG and Inter Miami, with appearances and goals. The complete trophy listAll 47 team titles season by season, plus eight Ballon d'Or awards. 21 years with ArgentinaFrom the red card in Budapest to the 2026 World Cup final. Records and statistics91 goals in a year, 474 in La Liga and the numbers nobody else has reached.

Frequently asked questions

What time does Argentina vs Benin kick off in Pakistan?

Kickoff is 8:00 PM in Buenos Aires on Tuesday 6 October 2026. In Pakistan that is 4:00 AM PKT on Wednesday 7 October, so set an alarm for the early hours rather than the afternoon.

Is Argentina vs Benin Messi's last match ever?

No. It is his last match for Argentina. Messi retired from international football on 31 August 2026 but still plays club football for Inter Miami, where his contract runs to the end of the 2028 MLS season.

Where is Messi's farewell match being played?

At the Estadio Más Monumental in Buenos Aires, River Plate's ground and Argentina's usual home venue. Around 85,000 fans are expected.

How many goals has Messi scored for Argentina?

125 goals in 207 matches before the Benin game, with 68 assists. All three numbers are Argentina records. Benin would be the 208th cap.

Where can I watch Messi's last game for Argentina?

Listed broadcasters include ViX and Prime Video in the United States, Premier Sports in the UK, L'Équipe in France, ZEE5 in India and GE TV in Brazil. Pakistani viewers should check local sports channels and official streaming apps on the day.

How many trophies has Messi won?

47 team trophies through the end of 2025: 35 with Barcelona, 3 with Paris Saint-Germain, 3 with Inter Miami and 6 with Argentina's senior, Olympic and under-20 sides. He also has a record eight Ballon d'Or awards.