{
  "id": 12106274,
  "title": "Meet Benin: Messi's final opponent for Argentina",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/meet-benin-messis-final-opponent-for-argentina",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-05T07:44:57.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Gulf News",
    "slug": "gulf-news",
    "url": "https://gulfnews.com/sport/meet-benin-messis-final-opponent-for-argentina-1.500698547"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "As Lionel Messi prepares for his final match with Argentina against Benin on October 6 in Buenos Aires, the West African nation finds itself facing a historic first - their ever-elusive first-ever encounter with the reigning world champions. Benin, situated between Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and Niger, has never qualified for the FIFA World Cup. Known as the Cheetahs, they reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. The only other achievement on the football pitch for Benin is their participation in the continental tournament five times, which includes the 2025 edition. Their upcoming match against Argentina at the Estadio Monumental is a significant occasion, as it marks Messi's farewell to international football following his retirement decision. The decision to schedule this fixture against Benin was influenced by the lower financial cost involved for Argentina, as reported by The Guardian. While Argentina's choice may raise eyebrows due to the disparity in resources between the two nations, the match promises to be a remarkable event for the underdog country. Despite complaints about their travel and accommodation treatment, Benin will have the unique opportunity to face one of the world's most decorated football teams in front of a massive crowd.",
  "summary": "Dubai: Rightfully so, all the talk surrounding the great Lionel Messi’s final match for Argentina has been centred around the main man himself, but what about the team he’s coming up against? Messi has faced 63 different nations during his senior international career with Argentina, but despite Wednesday night marking his final appearance for his country, there will still be a first for the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}