Argentina and Benín go face tonight for Estadio Monumental. Di match pass ordinary football, because e go mark Lionel Messi farewell to Argentine public. Na di third and last game for Albiceleste for this FIFA date. Dem prepare di day specially to celebrate di captain and biggest reference of di national team career.
Monumental don turn one singular night. Di stadium dey receive di Selección again, and emotion full everywhere. Messi dey inside wetin go be im last match before Argentine public. Expectation dey grow around one match wey go gather different generations of fans to follow di captain for one of di most meaningful moments of im journey with di national shirt.
Di referee na Chilean Fernando Vejar. Carlos Venegas and Wladimir Muñoz go assist am. José Cabero na di fourth official.
Argentina reach dis last FIFA date game after two solid shows. Last Wednesday dem beat Bolivia 4-0. On Saturday dem return to Monumental and beat Burkina Faso 7-0. So di team wey Lionel Scaloni dey coach wan close di friendly trilogy with another performance before dia public.
But dis time di result go carry one circumstance wey go make di match special for Selección history. Di protagonist na Lionel Messi. Against Benín e go get chance to say goodbye to Argentine public for di stadium wey receive am many times with di celeste and blanca shirt.
From im debut with di senior Selección reach tonight, Messi build one story wey cross generations, venues and competitions. For dat journey e win Copa América 2021, Finalissima 2022, Copa del Mundo Qatar 2022, Copa América 2024 and runner-up for Copa del Mundo Estados Unidos 2026 with one extraordinary performance. E also become di player with most matches and all-time top scorer for Argentina.
Now Monumental go open im doors again to receive am. E go be different night, prepared to celebrate one career wey don become part of Argentine football history and to follow di captain as e close one stage before im people.
Argentina-Benín go be more than di last match of one FIFA date. E go be di night of Messi farewell, di reunion of Selección with dia public, and one day wey go stay forever for Monumental memory.
For packed Monumental full of emotion, Messi first assist Otamendi, who also dey retire from di team, and Nico Paz, before e crown am with perfect penalty for 3-0 against di African side. Dat result mark di end of one era.
For one night wey pass ordinary football match, Lionel Messi live im farewell from Selección Argentina after 21 years of brilliant career for friendly against Benín for Monumental. Di game end 3-0 for Lionel Scaloni side.
Di star wey dem honour before, during and after di match be key with assists to Nicolás Otamendi — another successful historic wey dey retire — and Nico Paz to open one tough opponent. After, e get im dessert with di third goal from penalty for one evening of emotions wey end for pitch with many pikin accompanying di captain, like dem dey mark di future.
Fernando Véjar Díaz blow di final whistle between Argentina and Benín. Messi try im last free-kick, but di ball go over.
