Lionel Messi will make his final appearance for the Argentina national team in a friendly match against Benin on October 6, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced Tuesday. The farewell fixture will take place at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Messi, 39, declared his retirement from international football last month after a career spanning more than two decades. During his time with Argentina, he won the 2022 FIFA World Cup as well as Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024. The forthcoming match will mark his 208th cap, cementing his status as Argentina’s most capped player, and he holds the record as the nation’s all-time top scorer with 125 goals.

“We made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the symbol of our national team, our captain, Lionel Andres Messi, so that he can have the farewell he truly deserves on October 6 here in Argentina,” said Claudio Tapia, president of the AFA. He also extended invitations to all members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad to join Messi for what he described as an “unforgettable” occasion.

Prior to the Benin match, Argentina will play two additional friendlies as part of their post-World Cup schedule. On September 30, they face Bolivia in Córdoba, marking their first match since their defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. This will be followed by a game against Burkina Faso on October 3 in Buenos Aires.

Messi’s decision to step away from international play came shortly after the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, last month—a loss that led the star player to express “serious doubts” about continuing his football career. “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi said upon announcing his retirement. Despite retiring from international duty, Messi remains contracted to Major League Soccer club Inter Miami through the end of the 2028 season.

Separately, FIFA has mandated that Argentina reduce stadium capacity to 50 percent for their next home match due to violations of the organization’s disciplinary code related to unauthorized demonstrations during a sporting event.