Messi called up for Argentina farewell in October friendly

Lionel Messi will return to Argentina for a farewell appearance in a home friendly against Benin on 6 October.

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What happened. Lionel Messi has been called up by Argentina to make a farewell appearance in a home friendly against Benin on 6 October, following his international retirement. The AFA president, Claudio Tapia, confirmed the invitation on social media.

• The match will take place in Buenos Aires.
• Tapia called Messi 'the best player in the world' and 'the icon of our selection'.
• Messi's farewell comes after his international retirement.

“We invited the best player in the world to play, the icon of our selection, our captain Lionel Andrés Messi, to have a deserved farewell on 6 October, here in Argentina.”

— Claudio Tapia

The friendly will give Argentine fans a chance to honour Messi after his international retirement.

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