BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi could make one final appearance for Argentina despite previously announcing his retirement from international football.
The 39 year old Inter Miami forward was included Tuesday in Lionel Scaloni’s 28 man Argentina squad for three upcoming home friendly matches.
Messi has not yet publicly confirmed whether he will join the team, but Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia said the football star had accepted an invitation to play against Benin on October 6 in Buenos Aires, in what is expected to be a farewell celebration.
“After a conversation with senior national team coach Lionel Scaloni, we decided to invite the best player in the world our icon, our captain Lionel Messi so that he can have the farewell he deserves on October 6,” Tapia said.
Tapia added that Argentina also plans to invite the members of the squad that won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, along with their families, to attend what he described as the “last tango” of Messi’s international career.
Messi captained Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and helped the team reach the final of the 2026 World Cup, where Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain on July 19.
Argentina’s football association had earlier announced three friendlies following Messi’s retirement after a 21 year international career. The team will face Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba, before playing Burkina Faso and Benin at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental on October 3 and October 6.
Attention is also turning to the future of coach Lionel Scaloni, whose contract expires in December. Scaloni previously suggested he could leave his position following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
Meanwhile, Argentina will be without three players for a period after FIFA imposed suspensions following a confrontation involving players after the World Cup final. Leandro Paredes received a 10 match ban, while Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada were also suspended.
