Lionel Messi, the iconic captain of the Argentina national football team, will play his last match for the national squad on October 6, 2023, in a friendly against Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed this significant event, which marks the end of an illustrious international career for the football superstar.

Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31, and the AFA is eager to provide him with a memorable farewell in front of his home crowd. Claudio Tapia, the president of AFA, expressed his excitement about Messi's participation, stating, "After discussions with head coach Lionel Scaloni, we decided to invite our world-class player, symbol, and captain, Lionel Andres Messi, to have a deserving farewell on October 6 right here in Argentina."

In addition to Messi's farewell, Tapia mentioned that they would also invite all World Cup champions who participated in the Qatar tournament along with their families to join this historic match. This event is being referred to as the 'Final Tango' of one of the greatest players in football history.

During the FIFA Days from September 21 to October 6, Argentina will play three friendly matches. The first two matches will be against Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Cordoba and Burkina Faso on October 3 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The match against Benin on October 6 will serve as Messi's final appearance for the national team.

This farewell match will be Messi's 208th appearance for Argentina, and it presents him with the opportunity to surpass the milestone of 125 goals, a record that no Argentine player has achieved before. Benin, currently ranked 93rd in the FIFA rankings, will be the opponent in this momentous game.

Before joining the national team, Messi will play three more matches for Inter Miami, including a clash against Cruz Azul in the North American Super Cup on September 17, followed by matches against San Diego on September 21 and Columbus Crew in the subsequent MLS round.

The upcoming FIFA Days will signify the conclusion of an era for the Argentina national team, with Messi as its leader. The transition of the team is expected to take place, even as the future of coach Scaloni remains uncertain, with his contract set to expire at the end of 2026.