Lionel Messi farewell LIVE score — Argentina vs Benin updates: Messi provides two assists, scores penalty; ARG 3-0 BEN
Lionel Messi Retirement LIVE updates: Catch the latest score, updates and highlights from Lionel Messi's last game with Argentina, which will be against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Updated : Oct 07, 2026 06:32 IST
Lionel Messi will be in action for the last time with the national team. Catch the live updates and score from Argentina vs Benin. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Lionel Messi will be in action for the last time with the national team. Catch the live updates and score from Argentina vs Benin. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Welcome to Sportstar’s LIVE coverage of Lionel Messi’s retirement match between Argentina and Benin, being played at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The Argentine No. 10 had called time on his international career shortly after the side’s 1-0 defeat against Spain in the FIFA World Cup Final in July 2026. But the legend is returning to wear the blue and white for one last time in what promises to be an emotional evening for La Albiceleste and La Pulga.
Key Updates
- 60' GOAL - ARG 2-0 BEN
- 48' GOAL - ARG 1-0 BEN
- 32' - Messi misses a chance!
- 10' - A tribute to Messi
- Benin starting lineup
- Argentina starting lineup
October 07, 2026 06:32
68'
A penalty given to Argentina.
A lazy tackle from Ouorou after he mis-controls the ball. He tries to clear the ball but ends up catching Giay, who reaches the ball first.
October 07, 2026 06:25
60' GOAL - ARG 2-0 BEN
One more assist for Lionel Messi!
Instant impact from Nico Paz! He gets a pass from Messi from the left side, Paz receives, changes his orientation towards goal and curls this shot into the left corner. No chance for the keeper.
October 07, 2026 06:23
59' Argentina substitutions
IN - Nico Paz, Nico Gonzalez
OUT - Rodrigo De Paul, Julian Alvarez
October 07, 2026 06:19
57'
Giay tries to play a ball in behind to Lautaro through the right wing. He just misses the timing by a small margin and the attacker is flagged offside.
October 07, 2026 06:18
52' Argentina substitutions
IN - Lisandro Martinez, Facundo Medina
OUT - Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico
October 07, 2026 06:15
48' GOAL - ARG 1-0 BEN
MESSI GETS AN ASSIST!
He takes a corner from the left and Otamendi gets behind it, hits it into the roof of the net.
Two players making their final appearance for Argentina combine to get the side a lead.
October 07, 2026 06:02
A musical show
Los Fundamentalistas, a renowned musical group from Argentina, is keeping the crowd at the Estadio Monumental jigging with their acoustic renditions at the stadium. Second half action on the other side!
October 07, 2026 05:46
Half-time: ARG 0-0 BEN
Nothing to separate the two sides!
Benin has done well to hold itself on level terms after the first period. It has utilised its pace to threaten Argentina enough while also holding off threats. Messi with a great chance which he could not convert.
October 07, 2026 05:45
44'
Ouruo with a long run through the left wing, he sees a bit of opening from inside the box and he fires a shot at goal, Martinez punches it away.
October 07, 2026 05:44
43'
Olaitan with a shot from the edge of the box, from the right side, he tries a finesse to curl it into the corner, but he cannot get the direction right, ends up straight at Martinez.
October 07, 2026 05:34
32' - Messi misses a chance!
Lautaro plays a ball into the six yard box. This is a trivela zooming in and Messi charges at it to try and volley it, gets the connection but not on target. He had a man behind him which probably throws the attempt astray.
October 07, 2026 05:30
29'
De Paul with a cross into the box from the right, Lautaro gets behind it but sees the ball go out for a corner.
October 07, 2026 05:28
28'
Neat interplay between the Argentina front line, Enzo joins from the midfield. The move culminates when Lautaro puts in a cross from the left and a deflection hands the ball to the Benin keeper.
October 07, 2026 05:27
25'
A free kick for Argentina.
Who else but Messi to take it. Takes a direct free-kick, aims for the near post at the left, but Dandjinou is able to save it and punch the ball away.
October 07, 2026 05:25
24'
A chance for Messi.
De Paul plays a pass from the right side of the field, Messi makes a run to beat a host of Benin defenders, puts in a lunge in front to get a connection, but it’s a tad too heavy for him.
October 07, 2026 05:19
18'
Another chance from Benin!
Argentina caught in possession. Aloko with a darting run with a ball through the right wing, puts in a low cross to the six-yard box where Olaitan meets it and takes a shot, putting it wide of the near post.
October 07, 2026 05:17
17'
CHANCE!
Benin wins a corner. It’s on the left side and the delivery is curling in, Tosin jumps over Tagliafico and has a shot, luckily for Argentina it flies over the post.
October 07, 2026 05:16
15'
Enzo plays a curling ball at the far post from left. De Paul is charging at the far post but the ball still just about eludes him.
October 07, 2026 05:12
10' - A tribute to Messi
A tribute to Messi in the 10th minute!
The referee blows his whistle to halt the proceedings. The crowd is up on its feet, as are the coaches and players on the bench, all applauding Messi. The No. 10 takes it in, greets the crowd too.
He gets adulation for a full 60 seconds before the game resumes.
Messi gets ovation during 10th minute of Argentina vs Benin farewell match
Lionel Messi received an ovation during the 10th minute of his farewell match between Argentina and Benin at the Estadio Monumental stadium on Tuesday.
October 07, 2026 05:11
A few stills from the pre-match routine
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Benin - Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 6, 2026 Argentina's Lionel Messi lines up with sons Thiago, Mateo and Ciro during the national anthems ahead of his final international match REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi stands alongside his sons Thiago (L), Mateo (C) and Ciro ahead of the international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6, 2026. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi wipes away tears alongside his sons Thiago (L), Mateo (C) and Ciro ahead of the international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6, 2026. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
October 07, 2026 05:07
7'
Messi with a shot on target. Messi gets a pass from De Paul, he turns towards goal, gets past a man, and takes a shot from just outside the box. Forces a save from the keeper.
October 07, 2026 05:05
5'
Rodrigo De Paul gives away the ball inside his own half. Benin is surging ahead and De Paul commits a foul. Free kick for Benin, which ultimately gets them a shot at target from inside the box.
But there’s an Argentina defender in the way who blocks it off.
October 07, 2026 05:02
2'
A first cross from the right wing. Agustin Giay plays the ball in which is cleared away by a Benin shirt.
Julian Alvarez wins a corner for Argentina seconds later as Argentina switches the attack to the left wing.
October 07, 2026 05:00
1'
Benin to get the ball rolling from the centre circle.
And Argentina gains the possession just seconds after the kick-off.
October 07, 2026 04:59
A great gesture by Benin
The Benin captain Sessi D’Almeida gifts a special statue of an Amazon warrior to Lionel Messi, along with a letter. He takes the effort of explaining the significance of the statue to Messi in Spanish.
October 07, 2026 04:51
Time for the national anthems
Benin’s national anthem rings through the stadium. Up next, it is the national anthem of Argentina.
Fabio Santana will perform the Argentina national anthem. We can see Lionel Scaloni is already tearing up standing at the touchline. Even Otamendi cannot keep the tears away. Messi doing well to hold his emotion as of now.
October 07, 2026 04:49
First glimpse of Messi
And there comes the man of the moment. Messi is in the tunnel, standing up front, leading Argentina out onto the field for the final time. He is accompanied by his three sons - Thiago, Mateo and Ciro.
There’s a huge fireworks show as Argentina walks out onto the pitch.
October 07, 2026 04:43
Kick-off soon
The game should have kicked-off by now! But we see the broadcast cutting to the tunnel now where we can spot the two teams beginning to line up to enter the field. Lionel Messi is yet to appear though.
October 07, 2026 04:37
A massive Lionel Messi shirt on the ground
The groundstaff has unfurled a massive No. 10 Argentina shirt before kick-off here. But instead of Messi’s name, it reads ”Gracias”.
And that’s the cue for the crowd to start with chants of “Messsi, Messssi”.
October 07, 2026 04:35
End of a long, long, long, long journey
Messi made his senior debut on August 17, 2005. That is 7,763 days since the little magician has been plying his wares in international. He received a red card in that game, but he’s done more than a fair bit now to redeem himself from that unceremonious start. There’s been heartbreak, there’s been failure, there’s been success. Olympic gold, to the World Cup final loss, to Copa America defeats, to an international retirement, to a return, and eventual, to the ultimate glory -- it’s been quite the tale.
October 07, 2026 04:29
Lionel Messi on the field now
And much to the delight of the crowd, Lionel Messi makes his way onto the field at the Monumental Stadium for the team’s pre-game warm-ups.
At the touchline, the broadcast visuals show Angel Di Maria in a conversation with Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni. Leandro Paredes is also standing with these two gentlemen.
October 07, 2026 04:15
Argentina players out on the park for warm-ups
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Benin - Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 6, 2026 Argentina's Emiliano Martinez during the warm up before the match REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle
Argentina's midfielder Leandro Paredes stands on the pitch ahead of the international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6, 2026. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
de Argentina's midfielder Rodrigo De Paul waves ahead of the international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6, 2026. (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA / AFP)
October 07, 2026 04:14
Here's Lionel Messi career and achievements through the years
Messi Argentina career timeline: Major milestones, records
Lionel Messi will wear Argentina colours for one last time when the nation takes on Benin in an international friendly at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
October 07, 2026 03:58
Lionel Messi's family in attendance
Soccer Football - International Friendly - Argentina v Benin - Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina - October 6, 2026 Argentina's Lionel Messi's wife Antonela Roccuzzo and sons Thiago and Ciro in the stands before the match REUTERS/Rodrigo Valle
Antonela Roccuzzo, wife of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi, greets fans ahead of the international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6, 2026. Argentines will bid farewell to Lionel Messi with a huge "thank you" themed send-off in Buenos Aires, where the legendary captain will end his more-than-two-decade international career with a friendly against Benin. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
Antonela Roccuzzo (C-L) and Celia Cuccittini (C-R), wife and mother of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi, greet fans ahead of the international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6, 2026. Argentines will bid farewell to Lionel Messi with a huge "thank you" themed send-off in Buenos Aires, where the legendary captain will end his more-than-two-decade international career with a friendly against Benin. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
Celia Cuccittini, mother of Argentina's forward Lionel Messi, greets a fan ahead of the international friendly football match between Argentina and Benin at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on October 6, 2026. Argentines will bid farewell to Lionel Messi with a huge "thank you" themed send-off in Buenos Aires, where the legendary captain will end his more-than-two-decade international career with a friendly against Benin. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)
October 07, 2026 03:56
Benin starting lineup
Marcel Dandjinou - Liam Omore, Yohan Roche, Mohamed Tijani, Tamimou Ouorou - Sessi D’Almeida, Yamirou Ouorou, Hassane Imourane, Junior Olaitan, Rodolfo Aloko - Aiyegun Tosin.
October 07, 2026 03:48
Argentina starting lineup
Emiliano Martinez - Agustin Giay, Cristian Romero, Nicolas Otamendi, Nicolas Tagliafico - Alexis MacAllister, Enzo Fernandez, Rodrigo De Paul - Julian Alvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Lionel Messi.
October 07, 2026 03:42
The wait for the lineups continues
The lineups for football games are mostly revealed roughly an hour from kick-off. But we’re yet to receive a confirmation on the starting XIs for either side.
October 07, 2026 03:34
A message from Neymar ahead of Messi's farewell
“Anyone who loves football has enjoyed you throughout all these years. Today is your final game wearing the shirt of your national team, your country, and I hope you enjoy every second of it and that all the tributes today make you happy. It’s not only Argentina that thanks you, the whole world thanks you for everything you’ve done for football. Thank you for making me love football even more. It was an honour to have played against you, and even more so to have made history alongside you.”
October 07, 2026 03:21
The captain's armband for Messi, as always
October 07, 2026 03:17
A special jersey for a special evening
October 07, 2026 03:15
Lionel Messi's message before his last game
The moment has arrived. I leave in peace, I gave it my all. This jersey was my dream, my pride, and my life. Thank you for loving me so much. I will always carry you with me.
October 07, 2026 03:10
The ideal farewell?
Messi would have loved to end his Argentina stint by winning the FIFA World Cup Final against Spain. But the heart breaking loss meant his last competitive match ended on a sour note.
Yet, here he is, in front of his beloved home support, recalled to the national team one final time, for a fitting farewell. Some legends don’t have to ask for it (winks).
October 07, 2026 03:05
The last dance!
Lionel Messi. Argentina. One last game.
After 207 appearances, 126 goals and 68 assists, Lionel Messi will step out wearing the La Albiceleste colours for one final time.
We are here to take you through the final dance.
Published on Oct 07, 2026
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