Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina’s squad ahead of a farewell match marking his retirement from international football.
The 39-year-old announced the decision to end his international career two months after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain. Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia confirmed on Tuesday that Messi will face Benin on October 6 in his final appearance for the national team.
“We invited the best player in the world to play, our captain Lionel Andres Messi, to have a deserved farewell on October 6, here in Argentina,” Tapia said on social media.
The farewell match will take place at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. It comes after Argentina play two other fixtures, their first since the World Cup final. The team faces Bolivia at Cordoba’s Mario Kempes Stadium on September 30 before returning to Buenos Aires to host Burkina Faso on October 3.
FIFA has ordered a 50 percent reduction in stadium capacity for the Bolivia match as part of sanctions related to incidents during this year’s World Cup.
Three Argentina players will miss action due to suspensions stemming from an altercation during the World Cup final against Spain.
Leandro Paredes must sit out 10 matches, Nahuel Molina faces a seven-match ban, and Thiago Almada will serve a one-match suspension.
