As Buenos Aires prepares for an historic sporting occasion at the 85,000-capacity Estadio Monumental, the visiting team has made it clear that no concessions will be made on the pitch during Lionel Messi’s final international appearance for Argentina (Nemzeti Sport Online). The fixture brings down the curtain on a legendary career spanning more than two decades, yet the atmosphere surrounding the match has been shaped by both celebratory tributes and initial behind-the-scenes friction.
Messi Initially Doubted Match Due to AFA Financial Controversy
The road to this farewell match involved notable tension (ORIGO). According to reports from the Italian outlet Gazzetta dello Sport, Messi and manager Lionel Scaloni initially expressed doubts about organizing the fixture (ORIGO). The forward reportedly viewed the event as a commercial venture for the Argentine Football Association (AFA) designed to generate millions using his name, particularly while AFA president Claudio Tapia faced local investigations concerning tax evasion and economic crimes (ORIGO). Ultimately, agreement was reached after the association employed a Colombian agency to secure opponents willing to participate without demanding appearance fees, leading Benin—alongside Bolivia and Burkina Faso—to accept invitations in exchange for historical appearances alongside the iconic captain (ORIGO).