Argentina v Benin
| The Last Tango (El Último Tango) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Estadio Monumental, which hosted the friendly | |||||||
| Event | International Friendly | ||||||
| |||||||
| Date | 6 October 2026 | ||||||
| Venue | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina | ||||||
| Man of the Match | Lionel Messi | ||||||
| Referee | Fernando Véjar (Chile) | ||||||
| Attendance | 80,000+ | ||||||
Argentina vs Benin[1] was an international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin that was held at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on 6 October 2026.[2] Argentina won the match 3–0. Billed as "The Last Tango"[3], it was the farewell game and last international match for Argentine footballer Lionel Messi, after announcing his retirement from the national team on 31 August 2026 after losing the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.[4][5] Messi was called up by the national team for his last international match and his farewell game in an international friendly against Benin.[6] His international team mate from 2009, Nicolas Otamendi, also played his last match for the Argentina national football team that day.
Background
Lionel Messi
Messi began playing for the senior national team of Argentina at the age of 18.[7] At 24 years old, Messi became the captain for the national team.[8] In the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, Argentina lost to Germany 1–0.[9] In the 2015 Copa América final and 2016 Copa América Centenario final, Argentina lost to Chile two times in a row.[10][11] Losing three consecutive international finals caused Messi to retire from international football,[11] but a nationwide campaign in Argentina helped convince him to return to the national team to lead them for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, in which they lost to France 4–3, in the Round of 16.[12][13] Since then, Messi led Argentina to victory after a 28-year trophy drought in the 2021 Copa América in which Argentina defeated Brazil in the final, giving Messi's first international trophy for Argentina.[14] Messi led the nation to their first World Cup victory in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 36 years,[15] and led Argentina to another win in the 2024 Copa América.[16] Messi led the nation to its second consecutive World Cup final in the 2026 FIFA World Cup in which they lost to Spain in extra-time.[4] On 31 August 2026, Messi announced his final retirement from the national team, however, he was called up again for his farewell match against Benin.[17] A special shirt specifically made for the match was unveiled two days prior.[18]
Match
 Argentina | 3–0 |  Benin |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
          Argentina
|
 Benin
|
References
- ↑ "Argentina vs Benin". www.espn.com. Archived from the original on 7 October 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ AFP. "Lionel Messi set for Argentina farewell in October 6 friendly against Benin". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Lionel Messi's Final Match: Here's Where to Livestream the Argentina vs. Benin Soccer Game Online Free". Billboard. 5 October 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
Billed as “The Last Tango,” the Argentina vs. Benin match took place Oct. 6, at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. Kickoff was at 8 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET).
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 B; e; c; k; y; S; u; l; l (19 July 2026). "Spain is the 2026 World Cup champion, defeating Argentina for its 2nd title". NPR. Archived from the original on 22 July 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Millar, Colin; Imber, Leon (1 September 2026). "Lionel Messi retires from Argentina international duty: 'A decision that hurts my soul'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 31 August 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Lionel Messi called up for Oct. 6 Argentina friendly for 'last tango'". www.espn.com. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Messi handles 'new Maradona' tag". 22 August 2005. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Hughes, Rob (10 July 2014). "If Messi Is Argentina's Star, Then Mascherano Is the Glue". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 13 July 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Murray, Scott (13 July 2014). "World Cup final 2014: Germany v Argentina – as it happened". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 10 June 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Argentina's Lionel Messi grateful for support after Copa America defeat". www.espn.in. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Lionel Messi retires from Argentina after Copa America final loss to Chile". www.espn.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Messi 'God's gift' to Argentina – president". AS.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ "Watch World Cup last-16 live: France v Argentina". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ Das, Andrew (11 July 2021). "Lionel Messi and Argentina Beat Brazil in Copa América Final". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "World Cup final: Lionel Messi named best player as Kylian Mbappe wins Golden Boot". BBC Sport. 18 December 2022. Archived from the original on 9 January 2023. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Argentina wins record 16th Copa America title, beats Colombia 1-0 after Messi gets hurt". AP News. 15 July 2024. Archived from the original on 31 August 2026. Retrieved 6 October 2026. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ "Lionel Messi prepares to bid Argentina farewell in Buenos Aires". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 6 October 2026.
- ↑ Wright, Chris (October 5, 2026). "A kit fit for the GOAT: Messi's special jersey for final Argentina match unveiled". ESPN FC. ESPN Inc. Retrieved October 7, 2026.
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