BUENOS AIRES.- The relationship of Lionel Messi and the Argentine team will have a final night: the soccer star will say goodbye to his fans in the friendly that the Albiceleste will play on October 6 with Benin in Buenos Aires.
The announcement comes two weeks after the 39-year-old star announced “with pain in his soul” his retirement from the national team, which he led to world glory in Qatar 2022 and runner-up in Brazil 2014 and North America 2026.
“We have made the decision to invite the best player in the world, the emblem of our team, our captain Lionel Andrés Messi, so that he can have the farewell that he really deserves,” the president of the team said on Tuesday. Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapiain a video published on the X network.
The match against Benin will take place in Monumental stadium of River Plate, in Buenos Aires. “Chiqui” Tapia invited “all the world champions” in 2022 to accompany the left-handed player in his final goodbye.
“After having received Lionel’s acceptance, (we want) to invite all the world champions who participated with him in the Qatar World Cup 22 so that they and their families can accompany him in the game, which is going to be unforgettable,” said the manager.
Argentina will begin a series of three friendlies against Bolivia on September 30 at the stadium Mario Alberto Kempesin the province of Cordova (center).
It will be their first match since they lost the final of the North America World Cup 2026 in view of Spain (1-0) on July 19 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Then he will return to Buenos Aires to face Burkina Faso October 3rd already Benin the 6th.
Lens fires its coach after six games
He RC Lens of France announced this Tuesday the dismissal of the coach Dino Toppmöller after only six games, despite a title in the Champions Trophy in mid-August before the PSG already a first victory in the Champions League European.
Returning to the French team as assistant to the German coach this summer, the former team captain Yannick Cahuzac will be on the bench for the home game Monaco on Friday, at the opening of the fifth day of the Ligue 1.
“At the end of numerous exchanges dedicated to the life of the group, the functioning and organization of the coaching staff, Racing communicated to its coach its desire to remodel it,” Lens explained.
“Since these structural evolutions could not be shared by Dino Toppmöller, the club, in its responsibility, made the decision to end his mission, as well as that of his two deputies,” he added.
