Lionel Messi will make his final appearance for the Argentina national team on Tuesday when his side faces Benin at the Estadio Monumental de Nunez in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old captain is bringing an end to an international career that has spanned more than two decades representing his country on the global stage.
Messi concludes his international tenure with 125 goals scored across 207 matches for the national team. His service is highlighted by major silverware, having won two Copa America titles alongside the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Copa America serves as South America's flagship national team tournament.
End of an international era
The farewell fixture marks the conclusion of a historic era for Argentine football. His final appearance in the number 10 shirt has reignited the global debate over whether the forward stands as the greatest football player of all time.
Tuesday's match takes place at the Monumental de Nunez, the historic venue in the Belgrano neighborhood of Buenos Aires that serves as the home stadium for Argentine club River Plate. The arena is the traditional venue for the national team and the largest stadium in South America.
Opponents Benin, a West African national team competing under the Confederation of African Football, provide the opposition for Messi's international swan song.
A legacy across two decades
Messi established himself as Argentina's central figure over a career lasting more than 20 years. His international success complements an extensive club career in which the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner achieved domestic and European titles with Spanish club Barcelona and French team Paris Saint-Germain before moving to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami.
The 2022 World Cup victory stood as a pinnacle of his international journey, crowning his achievements with the national team.
As Messi steps onto the pitch for the final time in the national jersey against Benin, supporters in Buenos Aires prepare to celebrate the career of their legendary captain.
