Lionel Messi Prepares for Emotional Farewell with Argentina While Cristiano Ronaldo Faces Portugal Uncertainty

Expect tears in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night as Lionel Messi bids what is sure to be an emotional farewell to the Argentina national team. The 39-year-old will be winning his 208th and final cap for La Albiceleste when they take on Benin in a friendly at Monumental Stadium, bringing the curtain down on a career that has seen him score 125 goals and provide 68 assists for his country. From 2021 to 2024, Messi captained the side to back-to-back Copa America triumphs, World Cup glory in Qatar and the relaunched Finalissima, ending his international trophy drought in spectacular style.

All 85,018 tickets for the Benin game – dubbed 'The Last Tango' – were reported to have sold out within two hours, with fans desperate to pay their respects to their hero and Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. The team will wear a bespoke one-off kit for the occasion while all of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad – and their families – have been invited to join Messi for the celebrations.

“I imagine Tuesday's match will be very emotional for everyone, including Leo,” said Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni after Saturday's 7-0 friendly demolition of Burkina Faso, in which Messi did not feature. “It will be an unforgettable day. It will be his day, and his teammates' day, who also gave him his greatest footballing joy.”

Messi missed out on successive World Cup wins in the summer after Argentina lost in the final to Spain. That was quickly followed by the death of his father, Jorge, 68, following a long illness. He announced his international retirement soon after.

While Messi heads for the international exit, his old rival Cristiano Ronaldo is currently in the middle of an undignified fallout with his national team manager. The arrival of Jorge Jesus, his Saudi Pro League-winning manager at Al Nassr, as Portugal coach, appeared to be the perfect appointment as Ronaldo chases his 1,000th career goal and third Uefa Nations League crown with Portugal. However, cracks between captain and manager formed almost immediately as Ronaldo stormed out of the team's training camp ahead of a game against Denmark following a dispute over being an unused substitute in a win against Norway.