Le Monumental prepares to pay tribute to Lionel Messi before his final selection

On Tuesday evening, in Buenos Aires, the Argentinian Lionel Messi, 39, will play his last match with the national team against Benin, the kickoff scheduled for 1 a.m. in France. This friendly match closes an international career announced a few weeks ago, after the 0‑1 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

A final international challenge

The Mon, nicknamed the Monumental, is about to celebrate a football giant. The stadium will host the match that will mark the end of the international career of “the Pulga”, affectionate nickname of Lionel Messi.

Marked by the World Cup defeat and the death of his father shortly after, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has chosen to end his international duties to devote himself fully to his Inter Miami club, where he is completing his final months as a player.

“I have always fought and I have given everything for this shirt,” Lionel Messi said on August 31. “I have nothing left to give and very great youngsters, who deserve to be there, are coming behind me.”

Beninese goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou also commented on the challenge that Messi represents. He stated that his role was to stop shots, even in the case of a last‑minute penalty.

“My role is to stop shots. Even if it’s the last minute and there’s a penalty, if Messi takes it, I will try to stop it,” he said. “It’s as simple as that: it’s football. Yes, we are here to celebrate Messi, but no one told us we had to give him a goal. And knowing Messi, we don’t need to give him a gift. If he wants to score, he will have to do everything to make it happen.”

For the Argentinian people, this friendly match represents a very special moment, a final tribute without a promise of a gift, where the legend will have to fight once more to etch his name in history.