The country dons sky‑blue and white as ticket resale soars
All of Argentina is preparing for the farewell of its national team idol, Leo Messi, whose tribute match will be played today at 20:00 local time at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, while in Spain it is already 1 a.m. on Wednesday. In the capital, monuments were lit up in white and sky‑blue, murals appeared and the public displays its love for the number ten, while ticket resale reaches sky‑high figures.
Lighting, murals and the final farewell
In Buenos Aires, the Monumental stadium, home of River Plate, has 85,000 seats that sold out days ago. In Rosario, Messi's hometown, a giant banner with the number ten and the word “Thanks” was displayed in front of the Monument to the Flag. These expressions are part of a national day that celebrates the Rosarian before his final act with the Albiceleste.
According to the newspaper Clarín, illegal resale and agencies that call themselves authorized by the AFA have raised ticket prices. A travel company offered a “VIP experience pack” at 1,800,000 pesos, equivalent to about 1,050 euros. On the official AFA website, the cheapest tickets cost 90,000 pesos (53 euros), but on the resale market they reached up to 600,000 pesos (350 euros), almost seven times more.
The future without the mythical number ten
With Messi’s departure, coach Lionel Scaloni faces the challenge of building a team without the genius that took the Albiceleste to glory. The number ten, previously honoured by Diego Maradona and now by Messi, will be inherited by Nico Paz, a young forward from Como born in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Scaloni has already given Paz a starting role in the friendlies against Bolivia and Burkina Faso, the first two matches without Messi. The press notes that the left‑footed player from Como could become the new face of the Argentine attack, although the challenge of replacing an “irreplaceable” player remains huge.
The country’s economic context is also mentioned: since October 1, the Minimum, Vital and Mobile Salary (SMVM) in Argentina is 391,200 pesos per month (229 euros) for full‑time workers, highlighting the disparity between resale prices and the average income.
The image of fans forming Messi’s name at the Monumental, captured by Juan Mabromata of AFP, is accompanied by an AI‑generated audio that runs through the day, reinforcing the magnitude of the moment for the nation.