Lionel Messi Returns to Argentina for Final National Team

Lionel Messi is back in Argentina for the final act of his legendary international career. The 39-year-old landed in his hometown of Rosario on Friday ahead of a farewell match with the national team against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, October 6. The game, organized by the Argentine Football Association, is designed to give the 2022 World Cup winner a proper home send-off after he announced his international retirement on August 31.

Coach Lionel Scaloni is already handling the post-Messi era. In a friendly against Bolivia on Wednesday, which Argentina won 4-0, Scaloni experimented with a new look. He paired strikers Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez together, a combination he had previously avoided, and gave playmaking duties to Nicolás Paz. The iconic No. 10 jersey, worn by Messi in 207 of his appearances, was left unassigned. Scaloni said the number will not be given to anyone until after Messi's farewell, confirming the team must now "find a way to play differently."

Before flying to Argentina, Messi was in action for Inter Miami in a dramatic 2-1 MLS loss to the Columbus Crew on Sunday. Messi scored a stunning 33rd-minute free kick, his 21st goal of the season, to temporarily level the match. But Jamal Thiare slammed home a rebound in the ninth minute of stoppage time to seal the win for Columbus. The defeat leaves Miami with just one win in its last ten games, a worrying trend as they prepare to host D.C. United on October 10.

His final bow marks the end of a complex, 21-year journey with the Albiceleste. Initially viewed with suspicion as a teenager developing at Barcelona's La Masia academy, Messi endured early struggles. Argentine journalist Sergio Levinsky noted Messi "suffered enormously with the national team" at first. The AFA even had to track him down through a Rosario phone directory. Over time, he transformed from an outsider into the undisputed leader who delivered a World Cup, scoring 125 international goals and reaching three finals.

The reverence Argentina holds for Messi was highlighted in a recent social media storm involving Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star, amid a dispute with his own national team setup, endorsed a video comparing how he and Messi are treated by their countries. The clip, featuring former Brazil player Felipe Melo, argued Messi is "worshipped" in Argentina, contrasting with Ronaldo's current situation. This indirect nod shows the unique, devoted bond Messi has forged with his homeland.

• Farewell Fixture: Lionel Messi's final Argentina match is a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, October 6.
• Club Form: Messi leads MLS with 21 goals and 13 assists this season, but Inter Miami lost 2-1 to Columbus on Sunday.
• International Legacy: He retires with 125 goals for Argentina, a 2022 World Cup win, and three World Cup final appearances.