Kickoff time in every major time zone
The match starts at 8:00 PM local time in Buenos Aires on Tuesday 6 October 2026. Because Argentina sits eight hours behind Pakistan, the game falls in the early hours of Wednesday for viewers in South Asia and the Gulf. Your own local kickoff, worked out by your browser, is 04:00 PKT, Wed 7 Oct.
| Location | Time zone | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|
| Buenos Aires | ART (UTC−3) | Tue 6 Oct, 20:00 |
| New York, Miami | EDT (UTC−4) | Tue 6 Oct, 19:00 |
| Los Angeles | PDT (UTC−7) | Tue 6 Oct, 16:00 |
| London | BST (UTC+1) | Wed 7 Oct, 00:00 |
| Cotonou, Benin | WAT (UTC+1) | Wed 7 Oct, 00:00 |
| Paris, Barcelona | CEST (UTC+2) | Wed 7 Oct, 01:00 |
| Dubai | GST (UTC+4) | Wed 7 Oct, 03:00 |
| Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad | PKT (UTC+5) | Wed 7 Oct, 04:00 |
| Delhi, Mumbai | IST (UTC+5:30) | Wed 7 Oct, 04:30 |
| Dhaka | BST (UTC+6) | Wed 7 Oct, 05:00 |
The venue: Estadio Más Monumental
The Monumental in the Núñez district is River Plate's home and the stadium Argentina use for their biggest home fixtures. After its recent expansion it holds about 85,000, one of the largest capacities in South America, and a full house is expected. Argentina won their first World Cup on this pitch, beating the Netherlands 3-1 in the 1978 final, so the national team's first world title and the farewell of its record goalscorer share the same ground.
How the farewell came about
Messi published his retirement message on 31 August 2026. He wrote that the decision hurt but that he believed the time had come, and that a new generation deserved its chance. His last competitive international was the World Cup final on 19 July, when Spain won 1-0 in extra time through a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute after Enzo Fernández was sent off. Messi said afterwards that he wrote the letter on 21 July and waited to publish it while his father was ill.
The day before the announcement he scored four goals for Inter Miami in a 7-1 win over CF Montréal, a reminder that he is not retiring from football. The AFA then arranged two home friendlies for the October window: the first against Burkina Faso without Messi, and this one, built entirely around him. The Burkina Faso game caused a row when the senior squad did not travel and an under-23 team played instead. Benin have since complained publicly about travel and hotel arrangements, so the build-up has not been free of friction.
The opponent: Benin
Benin, nicknamed Les Guépards (the Cheetahs), are ranked around 89th by FIFA. Their best result at a major tournament came at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, where they knocked out Morocco on penalties and reached the quarter-finals. They are coached by Gernot Rohr, who led Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup, and captained by striker Steve Mounié. This is the first senior meeting between the two countries.
What Messi brings into his last game
| Category | Total | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Senior appearances | 207 | Argentina record |
| Goals | 125 | Argentina record, second all-time among men behind Cristiano Ronaldo |
| Assists | 68 | Argentina record |
| World Cups played | 6 | Shares the men's record |
| World Cup goals | 21 | 2006, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026 |
| World Cup finals | 3 | 2014, 2022, 2026; equals Cafu's record |
| Countries scored against | 44 | Benin would be the 45th |
Where to watch Argentina vs Benin
Rights were sold country by country. These were the listed broadcasters before the match:
| Country | Broadcaster or stream |
|---|---|
| United States | ViX (Spanish), Prime Video |
| United Kingdom | Premier Sports |
| France | L'Équipe |
| India | ZEE5 (streaming only) |
| Brazil | GE TV |
| Pakistan | Not confirmed at time of writing. Check local sports channels and official apps on the day. |
Avoid unofficial streams that ask for payment details or app downloads. They are a common source of scams around big matches. More detail is on our where to watch page, and you can pick your own city on the kickoff time converter.
Who else is saying goodbye
Pre-match reporting suggests the night may also be a farewell for midfielders Rodrigo De Paul, Messi's club teammate at Inter Miami, and Giovani Lo Celso. Both were part of the squads that won the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 World Cup. Coach Lionel Scaloni, who has managed Messi since 2018, said before the game that Messi leaves behind something without equal.
Follow the match centre for the live score, lineups and the final result.
Match result: This preview was published before kickoff. The final score, Messi's minutes and any goal he scores will be added here after full time.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Argentina playing Benin for Messi's farewell?
The October international window overlapped with the Nations League and other competitive fixtures, which limited which national teams were free. Benin agreed to travel to Buenos Aires for a friendly.
Has Messi ever scored against Benin?
No. Argentina and Messi have never met Benin in a senior match. Messi has scored against 44 national teams, so a goal tonight would make Benin the 45th.
Who coaches Benin?
Gernot Rohr, the German coach who previously managed Nigeria. The team is captained by striker Steve Mounié, formerly of Huddersfield Town.
What are the FIFA rankings of Argentina and Benin?
Going into the match Argentina were ranked second in the world and Benin 89th, according to pre-match reports.
Will Messi play the full 90 minutes?
That is Lionel Scaloni's decision and had not been confirmed before kickoff. Farewell friendlies often include a planned substitution so the crowd can give the player a standing ovation.
Sources
Kickoff, venue and attendance: beIN Sports and Geo News. Broadcasters: NBC Sports, Billboard, Olympics.com and Geo News. Benin coach, captain and ranking: NBC Sports and Olympics.com. Retirement details: Associated Press and Buenos Aires Times. World Cup final: NBC.