Lionel Messi will make his final appearance for the Argentina national team on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, facing Benin in an international friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires where the Argentine Football Association has organized a major tribute for the departing captain.
While the stadium is expected to be packed with supporters who exhausted available tickets, logistical hurdles, club commitments, and injuries have left notable gaps in the guest list for the Buenos Aires celebration.
The Argentine Football Association extended invitations to all 26 members of the squad that captured the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, aiming to reunite the championship locker room for one final evening on the pitch.
Clubs Block Players From Traveling
Italian club AS Roma blocked two of its players from traveling to South America. The club released a statement explaining that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina were denied permission due to sporting and logistical reasons, specifically citing the duration of intercontinental travel and the proximity of upcoming official fixtures. Roma is scheduled to face Como on Sunday, October 11, in a Serie A matchup.
The AS Roma organization expressed its utmost respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career, wishing him and the Argentine federation a very special evening. At the same time, the club noted the importance Messi holds for both players and the bonds they built together during their shared years with the national team.
Other international based players face similar scheduling walls. Goalkeeper Franco Armani must remain with Atlético Nacional in Colombia ahead of an official league fixture against Deportes Tolima scheduled for Wednesday, October 7. Midfielder Guido Rodríguez will stay in Spain with Valencia to prepare for a domestic match against Racing de Santander, while defender Juan Foyth was forced to withdraw from consideration after suffering an injury that sidelined him before he could join the squad, prompting Villarreal to block any subsequent travel.
Gómez Misses Out While Veterans Return
The situation surrounding Alejandro “Papu” Gómez remains distinct from the rest of the absent roster. Following his recent transfer to Forte Virtus in the United Arab Emirates and a prior doping suspension that kept him away from international duty, reports differ on whether he was formally invited or simply unable to make the trip after just arriving at his new club. Gómez stands out as the lone prominent member of the 2022 championship squad who has not reintegrated with the national team setup since the tournament in Qatar.
By contrast, several former internationals and current squad members cleared their schedules to attend. Angel Di María and Nicolás Otamendi will return to Buenos Aires despite having already closed their chapters with the Albiceleste. Di María scheduled a domestic appearance with Rosario Central against Banfield before immediately traveling to the capital. Meanwhile, Leandro Paredes will join the bench for the tribute despite an active ten-match suspension stemming from disciplinary incidents against Spain.
Local Contingent Joins the Monumental Tribute
Domestic based champions and players currently stationed nearby faced fewer obstacles in confirming their attendance. Germán Pezzella secured authorization from Peñarol to cross the Río de la Plata from Uruguay. River Plate players who missed out on Lionel Scaloni’s active matchday roster—including Gonzalo Montiel, Marcos Acuña, and Ángel Correa—will also take part in the tribute.
Thiago Almada, who was originally called up by Scaloni but subsequently withdrawn due to an injury, requested and received special permission from his club to participate in the team’s final training sessions alongside Messi ahead of the Tuesday night fixture.