Messi to play his final match for Argentina: prediction for Argentina vs Benin
The friendly match between Argentina and Benin will take place on October 7 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. The main event of the evening will be Lionel Messi’s farewell appearance, as he is set to play his 208th and final match for the national team. Argentina head into the encounter after two emphatic victories, while Benin recently defeated Mauritania 2-1.
Argentina: Messi’s farewell and 11 goals in two matches
After losing to Spain in the World Cup final, Argentina returned to action with two highly convincing victories. First, Lionel Scaloni’s side thrashed Bolivia 4-0 before scoring seven unanswered goals against Burkina Faso. As a result, the Argentines have scored 11 times in their last two matches without conceding a single goal.
All eyes will be on Messi, who is bringing a 21-year international career to an end. Before this match, he has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina, while since the World Cup he has netted 12 times in 13 games for Inter Miami. Nicolás Otamendi is also expected to make his final appearance for the national team after joining the squad specifically for this match.
Benin: victory over Mauritania and a more reliable defense
Benin head into this prestigious friendly after a solid start to their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign. The team first drew 1-1 with Burkina Faso before beating Mauritania 2-1 thanks to a brace from Rodolpho Aloko. It was Benin’s first match with two or more goals since September 2025.
At the same time, the team have recently been defending fairly well, conceding no more than one goal in five of their last six matches. On the other hand, the level of their upcoming opponents is incomparably higher, and Benin have previously suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat to Togo. At the Monumental, the visitors will have to withstand intense pressure from a team that will be especially motivated to give their captain a worthy send-off.
Match facts and head-to-head record
- Argentina have won their last two matches by an aggregate score of 11-0.
- Lionel Messi is set to make his 208th and final appearance for the national team.
- Argentina and Benin have never met before.
Argentina can give Messi a goal-filled send-off: prediction for Argentina vs Benin
Argentina are vastly superior to their opponents in terms of quality and come into the match on the back of two emphatic victories. Scaloni’s side create chances confidently even when rotating the squad, while the returns of Messi, De Paul and Lo Celso only add to their attacking firepower. The emotional backdrop surrounding the captain’s final match should also provide the hosts with extra motivation.
Benin may be able to stay compact for a while, but sustaining the pressure throughout the entire match will be extremely difficult. Argentina have already shown excellent scoring form in their recent friendlies and will surely be eager to cap this special evening with a convincing victory. If the hosts open the scoring early, the margin could become substantial.
