Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has rejoined training with the Argentina national team ahead of his farewell match against Benin on Wednesday. Messi, the captain of Inter Miami, was present at the team's training session for the first time since the international break began. He will wear a special jersey in his farewell match, which is a collaboration with German sportswear company Adidas.
Messi announced his retirement from international football a few days ago, following Argentina's loss in the 2026 World Cup final. However, he revealed his decision earlier than expected due to the recent passing of his father. Messi's international career spanned over 20 years, during which he played 207 matches and scored 125 goals for Argentina. He led the team to victory in the 2022 World Cup and won the Copa America twice in 2021 and 2024.
The Argentine Football Association plans to honor Messi with a special farewell ceremony on October 7. The association's president, Claudio Tapia, stated that they invited Messi to attend a ceremony that would be fitting for him, along with his family and the rest of the 2022 World Cup-winning team. The association aims to provide a memorable experience for Messi and the Argentine fans.
Messi's farewell match against Benin will take place on Wednesday, and the Argentine team is preparing for the game. The team recently played a friendly match against Burkina Faso, winning 7-0. Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, expressed his confidence in the team's abilities and praised young player Julian Alvarez.
Several other friendly matches took place recently, including a game between Brazil and India, which Brazil won 4-0. Paraguay also won a friendly match against Colombia, marking their first win against Colombia in nine years. These matches were part of the international break, which allowed teams to prepare for upcoming competitions.
Other news in football includes the announcement of the refereeing team for the Egyptian Premier League match between Zamalek and Al Ahly. The Egyptian Handball Federation announced that two teams withdrew from the African Handball Championship, causing a disruption in the tournament's schedule.
In other transfers, Algerian midfielder Riyad Mahrez arrived in Doha to join his new team, Al-Shamal. Meanwhile, Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong's return to Barcelona training has been delayed. The Portuguese Football Federation president stated that an incident between Cristiano Ronaldo and his coach was a misunderstanding.
Key points
- Messi to play farewell match against Benin
- Messi announces retirement from international football
- Argentina plans to honor Messi with farewell ceremony
