The king is leaving: Messi's last tango! Argentina vs Benin prediction
Argentina and Benin will meet in the early hours of Wednesday, October 7, in an international friendly that will mark Lionel Messi's final appearance for La Albiceleste. The match will take place at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, with kick-off scheduled for 01:00 CET. I am backing a goals-related bet in this game.
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H2H and statistical facts
- Benin have scored and conceded in four consecutive matches.
- Argentina have won their last two games by an aggregate score of 11-0.
- Argentina have not lost in regular time since September last year.
- These national teams have never met before.
Argentina
Argentina are approaching Messi's farewell in magnificent form. In September and October, the team have already played two friendlies and won both in emphatic fashion. First, La Albiceleste comfortably defeated Bolivia 4-0, before literally destroying Burkina Faso 7-0. In fact, Argentina scored five goals before half-time in the second match.
It is particularly symbolic that both games formed part of the build-up to the main event — Messi's farewell. The meeting with Bolivia was Argentina's first match after the World Cup final, while the team then returned to the Monumental and thrashed Burkina Faso. Argentina are showing that they can maintain a high level even without their main leader, gradually paving the way for a new generation of players.
At the same time, the match against Benin will be fundamentally different from the previous two. This time, the result will take a back seat, with the entire football world watching Messi. The Argentine Football Association specifically arranged this game as a farewell for the captain, while AFA president Claudio Tapia called Messi a symbol of the national team and said the legend deserved a fitting send-off.
For Argentina themselves, this will be a moment of transition. The team have already shown that they can win without Messi, but replacing him both as a footballer and as a symbol is virtually impossible. That is why the Monumental is expected to host not just a friendly, but a grand ceremony. One of the most emotional moments will come when Messi puts on the famous No. 10 shirt for the final time and walks onto the pitch in front of the Argentine supporters.
Benin
Benin are approaching the game with an entirely different motivation. For the African side, this is a serious international test and an opportunity to face the reigning world champions, but the team also understands the scale of the event that will take place at the Monumental. Head coach Gernot Rohr has already stressed that his team do not intend to treat the match solely as a celebratory ceremony and will maintain a competitive mindset.
Benin looked fairly convincing in their most recent competitive matches. At the end of September, the team first drew 1-1 with Burkina Faso before beating Mauritania 2-1. These games were played as part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign and showed that Benin can put up a fight even in difficult circumstances.
At the same time, the difference in class compared with Argentina is obvious. Benin do not possess a comparable number of world-class stars, while the match in Buenos Aires will also test the players' mental resilience. The enormous Monumental, packed with fans waiting for Messi's every move, can create an atmosphere unlike that of an ordinary friendly.
However, that is precisely why Benin could prove to be an awkward opponent. No one expects the African side to control the game or attack constantly, whereas Argentina risk coming under emotional pressure and focusing too heavily on the ceremony. Nevertheless, the difference in individual quality and La Albiceleste's current form make the hosts clear favourites.
Probable line-ups
- Argentina: E. Martínez, G. Giay, Romero, L. Martínez, Vega, Fernández, Mac Allister, Paz, Prestianni, Álvarez, Messi.
- Benin: Dandjinou, Ouorou, Tidjani, Roche, Azongnitodé, D'Almeida, Imourane, Olaitan, Aloko, Ouorou, Tosin.
What to bet on?
The main storyline of this meeting has long been clear: Argentina are bidding farewell to Lionel Messi. The team have already built impressive momentum — scoring 11 goals in their last two matches — while Benin also produced respectable results in September. But on an evening like this, the score will be far from the most important thing. The main scene will not be the final whistle, but the moment when the Monumental says goodbye to its captain for the last time. There is no doubt that Argentina will win comfortably, and my pick is under 5 total goals.
