In brief
Benin, often eclipsed by neighbouring Nigeria, will host Argentine legend Lionel Messi for his final international game, a friendly that could run the final score by a staggering margin. Captain Steve Mounie, a Bundesliga forward, has flown to Buenos Aires to cheer him on, even though a knee injury keeps him from playing. The match will feature a special edition kit for Messi and will likely see him substituted halfway through, making his shirt a prized collectible. On the pitch, Benin’s disciplined, family‑like squad faces a World Cup‑runner‑up in a game that could raise the country’s football profile.
Benin, a small West African nation next to Nigeria, is poised to become the centre of attention when it hosts Argentine superstar Lionel Messi for a friendly in Buenos Aires that will mark his final international appearance.
Argentina’s World Cup runners‑up are set to play a squad made up of players from Finland, Switzerland’s second division, and the South African Premiership, a likely 7–0 win that would mirror a recent warm‑up against Burkina Faso.
Benin captain Steve Mounie, a striker at Germany’s FC Augsburg, flew to the match but will not play because of injury. “I can’t play, so I flew to support my team,” he told BBC Sport, adding that he even paid for his own ticket to ensure he could see Messi from the pitch. “The moment is historic for Benin and for football.”
Messi is expected to come on for the Argentine side in the second half to allow fans to witness his farewell on the field and to claim the club’s special edition shirt—an item that collectors say could fetch millions, rivaling the market value of Marco Materazzi’s 2006 World Cup jacket.
The match will not only spotlight Messi but also shine a light on Benin’s footballing ambitions. “We’re a disciplined, young, technically skilled squad,” Mounie said. “We play pressing football and fight as a family, much like the Argentine side.”
Across Buenos Aires, shop windows and street vendors have already been primed for Messi’s last night on the pitch, underscoring the massive global interest in this highly anticipated player switch. For Benin, the event is more than an entertainment spectacle; it’s a springboard to elevate its football reputation on the world stage.
