Argentina prepares Messi farewell, match date unclear

Argentina is preparing to honor Lionel Messi with a farewell friendly against Benin, expected to be his final appearance for the national team. The match is scheduled at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, but the supplied reports disagree on whether it is set for Tuesday or Wednesday, and none confirms that it has been played. Messi arrived in Argentina ahead of the occasion, which follows more than two decades representing the country. He is expected to leave international football as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading scorer, with 207 matches and 125 goals; reports also credit him with 68 assists. His achievements with the national team include the 2022 World Cup, two Copa América titles and the 2022 Finalissima. Coach Lionel Scaloni described the farewell as an emotional event for Messi and the squad. The team is expected to include members of the generation that won the World Cup in Qatar alongside younger players, as Argentina begins preparing for life without its captain. Scaloni said collectively the squad would try to fill the gap left by Messi, while acknowledging that replacing him would not be straightforward.