Gasperini explains why Dybala and Molina will not attend Messi farewell
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - JULY 07: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates with teammates after the 3-2 victory during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 match between Argentina and Egypt at Atlanta Stadium on July 07, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has given a logical explanation as to why Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not be allowed to attend Lionel Messi’s final match with the Argentina national team this week, but admits that it will be an ‘emotional’ occasion and says that ‘it’s hard to think of anyone who’s achieved what Lionel has’.
Gasperini: ‘Too close to an important game’ for Dybala and Molina to attend Messi farewell
Messi will bid farewell to the Argentina national team in a final friendly against Benin at 00.00 BST on Wednesday, October 7.
Widely considered the greatest footballer of all time, Messi has led Argentina to World Cup glory, a second World Cup final and two Copa America titles within the last 10 years.
He will be accompanied by several Serie A stars who were called up to the Argentina squad for the September international break, including Roma trio Leonardo Balerdi, Matias Soule and Santiago Castro, Inter captain Lautaro Martinez, Como posterboy Nico Paz and Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez.
Dybala and Molina were not called up to the squad this month, though. Dybala has not appeared for the Argentina national team since 2024 and Molina was forced to serve an international suspension after his antics at the end of the 2026 World Cup final.
Even if they were not going to play, the Roma pair, who have 105 caps between them, had hoped to be in attendance for Messi’s final Argentina match.
Roma head coach Gasperini, speaking in an interview with Sky Sport Italia on Monday, has explained that there is simply not enough time for Dybala and Molina to fly to and from Argentina ahead of a crucial pair of Giallorossi fixtures against Como and Real Madrid coming up after the international break.
“Messi’s farewell will be emotional,” said Gasperini. “Personally, I’ve seen lots of star players, initially as a player myself and then as a coach, but it’s hard to think of anyone who’s achieved what Lionel has. I’m sorry to see his career with the Albiceleste come to an end.
“We are too close to an important game like our one on Sunday [to let Dybala and Molina fly to and from Argentina]. We’re a long way from Argentina and sending them there would have meant making them fly for a lot of hours so close to the match and Roma preferred for that not to happen.”
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