Messi plays his last match for Argentina against Benin

Lionel Messi plays his last match for Argentina's national team on Tuesday. The friendly against Benin at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires kicked off at 17:00 in Mexico City and the captain started, according to La Nación. No final score was confirmed when this story closed.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni lined up Emiliano Martínez in goal; Agustín Giay, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi and Nicolás Tagliafico in defense; and Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister in midfield. Messi plays up front with Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez. The referee is Chile's Fernando Véjar.

Before kickoff, Messi posted a farewell video on Instagram. He said he leaves "in peace" and thanked fans for their affection, according to Infobae. The Argentine federation (AFA) invited 2022 World Cup champions such as Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes, Gonzalo Montiel and Marcos Acuña, and the player's mother, Celia Cuccittini, was also at the stadium.

Messi arrives with 207 matches and 125 goals for Argentina, and tonight is his 208th. Nobody has scored more or played more for the team. With it he won the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América and the 2022 Finalissima, according to Mediotiempo. His assists total appears as 68 in some sources and 66 in others, so it is not used until confirmed.

Benin, coached by Gernot Rohr, arrived after a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso and a 2-1 win over Mauritania in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. In Mexico the match is only on ViX. The stadium program includes a concert and a drone and fireworks finale that runs past 22:30 Argentina time.