Roma rule out Dybala, Molina for Messi farewell

AS Roma has ruled that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not travel to Buenos Aires for Argentina’s scheduled October 6 match against Benin, an event planned as a farewell to Lionel Messi’s international career. The club said it made the decision for sporting and logistical reasons, citing the length of the intercontinental journey and the proximity of its upcoming competitive fixtures. Roma acknowledged the significance of the occasion for both players, who were members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and have played alongside Messi. The club also expressed respect for Messi and wished him and the Argentine Football Association a special evening. Its statement did not provide further detail about the internal assessment behind the decision. The match is scheduled to take place at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Dybala and Molina’s absence will mean they do not attend the event, although reports say neither was expected to play against Benin. Dybala was not called up for Argentina’s current window, while Molina is reportedly serving a seven-match international ban.