Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Latin Times
Latin Times
Sport
Clara Espinoza

The Real Story Behind Messi's Oct. 6 Farewell: Bans, a Full Stadium and an Opponent Argentina's Never Faced

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - JUNE 16: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates scoring his team's third and hat trick goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Algeria at Kansas City Stadium on June 16, 2026 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Credit: Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Lionel Messi will play his 208th and final match for Argentina on October 6, when the albiceleste hosts Benin in a friendly at Estadio Monumental, Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia confirmed this week. The announcement closes out a run that stretches back two decades, to a debut against Hungary that ended in a red card before Messi turned 19.

A send-off that takes just one appearance to complete

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.