Benin are drawing attention as the potential opponents for Lionel Messi’s final match in international football. Argentina are scheduled to face the West African side in a friendly in Buenos Aires on October 6, a match that could serve as Messi’s farewell in the national team jersey.Messi announced his retirement from international football on the final day of August. His last match for Argentina came in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain. Rather than ending his international career immediately after the final, however, the Argentine captain now has the opportunity to bid farewell to supporters on home soil.Argentina are scheduled to play three friendlies during the September-October FIFA international window. They will face Bolivia at the Mario Kempes Stadium in Cordoba on September 30, followed by a match against Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3. The international window will conclude with the Benin game in the same city on October 6. Messi has been included in the squad for that match.Benin are ranked 93rd in the FIFA rankings. Located on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, the country shares borders with Togo, Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Niger. Porto-Novo is its capital, while Cotonou is its economically important city. The country has a population of around 15 million.French is Benin’s official language, while several local languages, including Fon and Yoruba, are also widely spoken. Although the country is a member of the Confederation of African Football, Benin have yet to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.They came close to reaching the 2026 World Cup for the first time during the qualifiers. In March 2025, South Africa’s 2-0 win over Lesotho was changed to a 3-0 defeat after Lesotho were found to have fielded suspended midfielder Tebogo Mokoena. The decision altered the Group C standings, putting Benin at the top heading into the final round.A win over Nigeria in their final match would have secured Benin a chance to qualify directly for the World Cup. But Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick inspired Nigeria to a 4-0 victory. South Africa, meanwhile, beat Rwanda 3-0 to finish top of the group and secure direct qualification. Nigeria finished second and advanced to the African playoffs, while Benin ended the campaign in third. Although their World Cup dream fell short, Benin now have the opportunity to face Argentina in what could become Messi’s final international appearance. For the African side, the match could also provide a significant stage to showcase their ability against the world champions.
সহজ ও দ্রুত খবরের আপডেট পেতে আমাদের অ্যাপটি ইন্সটল করুন।
