Argentina national team captain and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has officially arrived in his hometown of Rosario to bring down the curtain on his legendary international career. The 39-year-old football icon landed at Islas Malvinas International Airport on a private jet accompanied by his family, launching a series of farewell events. This milestone marks the end of an era in world football, filled with triumphs including a World Cup victory and eight Ballon d'Or titles.

Preparation for the Final Game

Following a brief rest at his private residence in Funes, the experienced forward headed to the national team's training camp in Ezeiza, led by Lionel Scaloni. Due to a tight schedule, Messi will participate in only one joint training session with his Argentina teammates. The upcoming friendly match against the Benin national team has generated unprecedented excitement among fans worldwide.

The game will take place at a packed stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday and will kick off one hour earlier than usual at 8:00 PM local time. Organizers made this adjustment to accommodate a special ceremony honoring the legendary captain and to complete all pre-match farewell activities before the opening whistle.

Controversial Data

While official sources report large-scale preparations for Lionel Messi's farewell match against Benin, discussions have emerged in the media regarding the team's status and future matches without its leader. Some analysts reference reports that the Argentina national team had already played matches in the absence of the captain following major tournaments, causing some confusion in the chronology of the team's friendlies and official fixtures.

International Career Summary

The decision to retire from the Argentina national team was announced by the player himself a month ago via his official social media page. This step followed his achievement of a personal scoring record at a major summer tournament in 2026. Following the festivities and weekend ceremony in the capital of Argentina, Lionel Messi will return to North America to continue his season with Inter Miami.