Argentina vs Benin: Score, Lineups, Kickoff Time, Where to Watch and Messi’s Last Game
The Argentina vs Benin match has attracted major attention from football fans around the world, largely because of one name: Lionel Messi.
The match was not just another international friendly. It marked Messi’s final appearance for the Argentina national football team, bringing an extraordinary international career to an emotional close.
Argentina faced Benin at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on October 6, 2026, in a match that gave Argentine supporters one final opportunity to see Messi wear the national team shirt on home soil.
Argentina vs Benin Score
Argentina defeated Benin 3-0.
The goals came from:
Nicolás Otamendi
Nico Paz
Lionel Messi
Messi scored from the penalty spot and also contributed two assists during the match.
The result gave Argentina a comfortable victory and provided a fitting ending to Messi's international career.
Is Argentina vs Benin Messi's Last Game for Argentina?
Yes.
Argentina vs Benin was Lionel Messi's final game for the Argentina national team.
Messi had already indicated that his international career was coming to an end after the 2026 World Cup. The match against Benin gave him the opportunity to say goodbye to Argentine supporters at the Monumental.
For many fans searching for “Messi last game for Argentina”, “when is Messi's last game”, or “Messi farewell match,” this was the game they were looking for.
Messi finished the night as both a scorer and creator, making his final appearance for Argentina particularly memorable.
Messi's Last Game for Argentina
Messi's final Argentina match ended with a 3-0 victory.
The Argentine captain scored a penalty and registered two assists, helping his team finish the night with a convincing result.
The match also marked his 208th appearance for Argentina.
By the end of his international career, Messi had scored 125 goals for Argentina, making him the country's all-time leading scorer.
His international career included some of the biggest achievements possible in football, including:
Copa América 2021
Finalissima 2022
FIFA World Cup 2022
Copa América 2024
FIFA World Cup 2026 final
The Argentina vs Benin match therefore represented much more than a friendly. It was the closing chapter of one of the greatest international careers in football history.
Did Messi Retire?
This is where the answer needs some clarification.
Messi retired from international football with Argentina, but he did not retire from professional football altogether.
His final Argentina appearance came against Benin.
That does not necessarily mean that Messi has stopped playing club football. His club career is a separate matter from his international career.
So if you are searching “Did Messi retire?”, the short answer is:
Messi retired from playing for Argentina, but that is different from retiring from professional football.
Argentina vs Benin Lineups
The Argentina national football team entered the match with a strong lineup for Messi's farewell appearance.
Argentina Starting Lineup
Argentina's starting XI included:
Emiliano Martínez, Agustín Giay, Cristian Romero, Nicolás Otamendi, Nicolás Tagliafico, Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández, Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez.
Messi wore the captain's armband and played in an advanced attacking role.
The presence of several established Argentina players made the occasion even more significant.
Benin Starting Lineup
Benin's starting lineup included:
Marcel Dandjinou, Tamimou Ouorou, Yohan Roche, Mohamed Tijani, Liam Omore, Sessi D'Almeida, Hassane Imourane, Yamirou Ouorou, Rodolfo Aloko, Junior Olaitan and Aiyegun Tosin.
For Benin, the match was a major opportunity to face one of the world's strongest national teams and play against Lionel Messi in his final Argentina appearance.
Argentina vs Benin Kickoff Time
The Argentina vs Benin match was played on:
Date: October 6, 2026
Venue: Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires
Competition: International Friendly
Kickoff: 8:00 PM Argentina time
For football fans in other countries, the local date and kickoff time may be different because of time-zone differences.
This is why searches such as “Argentina vs Benin time,” “what time does Argentina play today,” and “what time is Argentina playing today” became popular before the match.
Where to Watch Argentina vs Benin
Broadcast rights for international football matches vary by country.
In Argentina, the match was available through local broadcasters including Telefe and TyC Sports, with online coverage also available through their respective platforms.
In the United States, coverage was available through ViX, while TUDN Radio provided audio coverage.
For viewers in other countries, including Indonesia, availability depends on the local broadcaster holding the rights.
If you are searching for “Argentina vs Benin streaming,” “where to watch Argentina game today,” or “where can I watch Messi farewell match,” it is best to check the official sports broadcaster available in your region.
Avoid unofficial streaming websites, particularly those that require unknown software downloads or repeatedly redirect users to suspicious pages.
Where Can I Watch Messi's Last Game?
If you missed the live broadcast, look for an official replay or match highlights from the broadcaster that held the rights in your country.
Search terms such as:
“where to watch Messi last match”
“how to watch Messi's last game”
“where can I watch Messi farewell match”
and
“Argentina vs Benin full match”
are likely to lead fans toward different options depending on their location.
Streaming rights are location-dependent, so a service available in Argentina or the United States may not necessarily be available in Indonesia or another country.
Argentina vs Benin Match Summary
The match started with Argentina controlling possession and creating opportunities around the Benin penalty area.
Argentina eventually opened the scoring through Nicolás Otamendi.
The home side continued to control the game before Nico Paz added another goal.
Messi then completed the scoring from the penalty spot.
The final score was:
Argentina 3-0 Benin
For Argentina supporters, however, the score was only part of the story.
The biggest moment came when Messi took part in his final game for the national team.
Lionel Messi's Argentina Career
Messi's relationship with the Argentina national team has been one of the most closely followed stories in modern football.
His early years with Argentina were accompanied by enormous expectations.
Despite reaching major finals, Messi initially faced criticism because Argentina had struggled to win major senior international trophies.
That changed in 2021.
Argentina won the Copa América, giving Messi his first major senior international trophy with the national team.
The following year brought an even bigger achievement.
Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, with Messi playing a central role throughout the tournament.
He subsequently helped Argentina win another Copa América in 2024.
By the time he played his final game against Benin, Messi had established himself as one of the most successful players ever to represent Argentina.
Messi and Nicolás Otamendi
Messi was not the only veteran Argentine player receiving attention during the match.
Nicolás Otamendi also played an important role.
Otamendi scored Argentina's opening goal and was part of the generation that shared some of the most successful years in Argentina's modern football history.
Seeing Messi and Otamendi together on the field made the Argentina vs Benin match especially meaningful for supporters who had followed the national team for years.
Argentina National Football Team vs Benin National Football Team
Argentina and Benin do not have the same historic rivalry as Argentina has with teams such as Brazil or Uruguay.
The importance of this particular match came primarily from the occasion surrounding it.
For Benin, it was a chance to compete against a world-class Argentina team.
For Argentina, it was an opportunity to celebrate Messi.
And for Messi, it was the final opportunity to represent his country in an international match.
That combination made the fixture far more significant than an ordinary friendly.
What Happens to Argentina After Messi?
Argentina now enters a new era.
Replacing Lionel Messi is practically impossible because he has been the team's defining player for more than two decades.
However, Argentina has a strong group of players capable of carrying the team forward.
Players such as Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister, Rodrigo De Paul and Nico Paz represent different parts of Argentina's next generation.
The challenge for Argentina will be maintaining its competitiveness without the player who has been at the center of the team for so long.
Messi's Legacy With Argentina
Messi leaves Argentina with an extraordinary international record.
He finishes as the team's all-time leading scorer with 125 goals and 208 appearances.
More importantly, he leaves after winning the major trophies that had once seemed out of reach.
His international legacy includes a Copa América, Finalissima, World Cup and another Copa América.
The Argentina vs Benin match therefore represents the end of an era.
For years, whenever Argentina played, the question was often simple:
What will Messi do?
Now Argentina must begin answering that question without him.
Final Thoughts
The Argentina vs Benin match will be remembered as one of the most emotional games in Argentina's recent history.
Argentina won 3-0, with goals from Nicolás Otamendi, Nico Paz and Lionel Messi.
But the result was not the main story.
The real story was Messi's final appearance for the Argentina national team.
After more than two decades, hundreds of appearances and 125 international goals, Lionel Messi finally said goodbye to the shirt he had worn since the beginning of his international career.
For Argentina fans, the era may be over.
But Messi's legacy with the national team will remain for generations.