In brief
Benin, a tiny West African nation often eclipsed by its neighbour Nigeria, will host Argentina for Lionel Messi’s final international game. A special kit marks the occasion and Benin’s captain, Steve Mounie, has paid his own way to the match, despite injury. The game promises a Messi‑won jersey that collectors anticipate could become a priceless relic, while Argentina’s warm‑up beat of 7-0 over Burkina Faso suggests a likely comfortable win. Messi’s brief cameo will be watched by fans hoping for a historic moment, and Benin’s supporters see it as a chance to shine on the world stage.
Benin, a small West African country next to Nigeria, is accustomed to being in the shadow of its footballing powerhouse neighbour. But a brief moment of spotlight is on the horizon.
On Tuesday night, Benin will take on Argentina in Buenos Aires for what is expected to be Lionel Messi’s last match with his national team.
Argentina’s special farewell kit features an exclusive design that honours Messi’s legacy, and the shirt he will wear could soon appear in auction houses for record sums.
In a rare interview, Benin captain Steve Mounie—who plays for FC Augsburg in Germany—revealed that he would have had no chance to travel without paying his own ticket.
Mounie admitted that injuries prevent him from actually playing, yet he is determined to be in the stadium, stating, 'I can’t play, but I want to support my team and see Messi’s final minute on the pitch.'
Ahead of the match, Argentina thumped Burkina Faso 7-0 as a warm‑up, a scoreline that many expect to be mirrored against Benin. Messi is likely to enter the game in the second half as the Argentina squad gives him a controlled exit.
The anticipated rush to grab Messi’s match‑worn jersey has already sparked interest from collectors, with founder of Classic Football Shirts, Doug Bierton, predicting that the item will surpass even the €61,000 price tag of Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ jersey.
Messi’s shirt is expected to join the ranks of other historic memorabilia, including Zinedine Zidane’s red‑carded 2006 World Cup final attire, which reigned as a collector’s treasure.
For Benin, this friendly presents more than the scoreline; it offers a platform to show that its players can compete and inspire on the global stage. As the crowd gathers at Estadio Monumental, the world will witness a sporting milestone that could resonate long beyond the final whistle.
