As Lionel Messi prepares for his final match for Argentina, opponents Benin have abandoned defensive plans, opting instead to honor the icon in his 85,000-seat stadium swansong.
The plan for defending Lionel Messi in his final act for Argentina is simple: there is no plan.
As the world prepares for the 39-year-old’s curtain call at the Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires. the visiting Benin squad has arrived not as hardened adversaries. but as spectators with cleats. Centre-back Tijani Mohamed. tasked with holding the line against the man who defines a generation. was blunt when asked about his defensive strategy: “You don’t mark Messi. We are just going to enjoy this match. I’m going to look at him like this: ‘Messi, you are God.'”.
For the 85. 000 fans expected to fill the stadium. this farewell represents a historic milestone for a player who has appeared 207 times for his country. netting 125 goals and securing a World Cup title alongside two Copa Americas. The retirement. announced in August. follows a bitter sting—a loss to Spain in the World Cup final just weeks prior. Messi. who wrote on Instagram that the decision “still hurts to my core. ” enters this midnight UK time kickoff with the weight of a nation’s pride on his shoulders.
Yet, the road to this moment has been defined by disarray. The Argentine federation’s schedule of low-budget friendlies against Bolivia. Burkina Faso. and Benin has drawn scrutiny. particularly after the Burkina Faso clash devolved into a farcical 7-0 victory against an under-23 squad. That match was forced by the cancellation of a charter flight from Morocco. which left the first team stranded amid disputes over financial compensation and exhaustion.
Benin’s own arrival has been marked by a grueling ordeal. Following a 23-hour flight that saw their video analyst. Jonas Bide. reportedly lose consciousness. the team checked into a hotel devoid of hot water. Upon arrival. the squad found their designated facilities—including the artificial turf and gym—below the standards required for professional preparation.
Despite the logistical decay surrounding the fixture, the reverence from the visitors remains absolute. “I’ve watched the matches and that’s it,” Mohamed said. “For me he’s the best in the world.” The team’s doctor echoed the sentiment, flatly declaring, “He’s the best in the world!”
As the clock ticks toward the final whistle on his international career. the contrast between the high-stakes grandeur of Messi’s legacy and the chaotic reality of his final opponent has never been sharper. While Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad prepares to pay tribute on the pitch. Benin is left to navigate a bridge between professional duty and pure hero worship. committed to ensuring that. despite the travel fatigue and broken amenities. the farewell celebration proceeds as planned.
Lionel Messi Argentina Benin Farewell match football news Buenos Aires