The report says the Argentine Football Association is arranging the occasion at the Estadio Monumental, giving Messi the chance to close his international career in front of a huge home crowd.
That setting matters. Messi’s Argentina story includes the heartbreak of lost finals, the breakthrough of the 2021 Copa América, and the triumph of the 2022 World Cup. His journey from national scapegoat to undisputed captain has been one of international football’s defining narratives.
A planned farewell allows supporters to celebrate the complete story rather than focus only on the final result.
Tributes are reportedly planned before kick-off, with a further presentation expected after full-time. Members of Argentina’s World Cup-winning squad have also reportedly been invited, adding another emotional layer to the occasion.
The report says Messi is expected to wear a specially designed Argentina shirt, reinforcing the sense that this match has been created as a once-only event rather than a routine fixture.
For the national team, it will also mark the beginning of a difficult transition. Argentina must eventually learn to operate without the player who has shaped its attack, identity and expectations for so long.
Messi’s departure will not erase his influence. His standards, leadership and connection with supporters will remain part of Argentina’s football culture for years.
For now, attention turns to 6 October, when the Benin match could give Messi the farewell his career demands - and Argentina the opportunity to say goodbye on its own terms.