**Argentina faces Benin in a farewell friendly at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on October 6, marking Lionel Messi’s final appearance for La Albiceleste after his August retirement announcement following the 2026 World Cup final loss to Spain.** The 39-year-old, Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 125 goals in 207 caps, joins a squad featuring 2022 World Cup veterans like Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso for this send-off. Argentina arrives in dominant form after 4-0 and 7-0 victories over Bolivia and Burkina Faso in the same window, while Benin (FIFA rank ~93) enters as heavy underdogs with limited recent competitive success. Coach Lionel Scaloni’s likely attacking setup pairs Messi with forwards such as Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez, creating high scoring potential in a celebratory, high-possession environment against a lower-ranked opponent.