Lionel Messi farewell: Argentina invites superstar to play final match on Oct 6

After announcing his retirement from international football, Lionel Messi has been invited by Argentina's Football Association (AFA) to play his final match for the national team. AFA president Claudio Tapia confirmed that Messi, the team's legendary forward and captain, will take the field on October 6 during one of the friendly matches scheduled in the upcoming October window.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runners-up will play three home friendlies in the window, with Messi set to participate in the match against Benin on October 6 in Buenos Aires. Argentina will also face Bolivia in Córdoba before hosting Burkina Faso on 3 October. Messi's decision to retire was announced on August 31, following his initial retirement in the wake of Argentina's loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America Centenario Final.

Messi's father Jorge passed away earlier last month, prompting him to make his retirement decision public. Throughout his international career, Messi has been instrumental in Argentina's successes, including winning back-to-back World Cup finals and breaking numerous records. He holds the record as the club's all-time leading scorer with 125 goals in 207 appearances, and is the player with the most caps for the national team.