'Not here to be tourists in Argentina': Benin keeper ahead of Messi's farewell match

Argentina footballer Lionel Messi

NEW DELHI: Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou has made it clear that Argentina’s farewell celebration for Lionel Messi will not stop his team from competing. As Benin prepare to face Argentina at the Monumental, the 28-year-old goalkeeper says his focus will be on doing his job, even if that means denying Messi a goal on his final night.Dandjinou, who plays for Kruger United in South Africa’s Premier Division, spoke to Spanish newspaper Marca after arriving in Buenos Aires.

Despite reports of problems with Benin’s preparations, including claims about poor hotel facilities and difficulties in training, he insisted the team had been treated well."We did not face any problems. We are fine here in Buenos Aires. Why do you say that? The truth is that we have had good conditions," he said.

‘We are here to compete’

Dandjinou admitted that facing Messi makes the match particularly special, but stressed that Benin are not travelling to Argentina simply to watch the superstar."For me, this match is not like any other match. I think it is an opportunity that will not come again, because it is Messi's last match. It is a special match. But, look, we are here for Argentina and for Messi, but we must not forget that we represent our country too," he added.

"We are here to defend Benin. This is football: eleven players against eleven. We can win, or draw, or they can win, but it is football. We are not here to be tourists in Argentina; we are here to play and to compete. It will be a great day in our lives."The goalkeeper has huge respect for Messi, having grown up watching him play."For me, Messi is one of football's legends. We grew up watching him play. He is one of our favourite players.

To be able to play against him now, on the same pitch, is incredible. I never imagined this would happen, but it will happen on Tuesday. For me, Leo is a legend, a true legend," he further remarked.

No free goal for Messi

Asked whether he would allow Messi to score a penalty in the final minutes as a farewell gesture, Dandjinou gave a firm answer."No, no. I am a goalkeeper, and my job is to save the ball. Even if it is the final minute and a penalty is awarded, if Messi takes it, I will try to save it.

It is that simple: it is football. Yes, we are here to celebrate Messi, but no one has asked us to give him a goal. And knowing Messi, there is no need to give him anything. If he wants to score, he has to do his best to achieve it," he explained.While every Benin player would love Messi’s shirt, Dandjinou joked that the squad could need plenty of them.

"If you asked any player in my team, he would tell you he wants his shirt. So it would be great if they made a lot of shirts and gave one to each player.

Because if only one of us goes to ask for the shirt, I do not think it will be easy: we all want one," he continued."It would be a great honour for me to play, and that memory will remain engraved in my mind forever. During my career I will be able to say: I was there, in the last match of a legend, in Messi's last match. It is incredible."On the eternal Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo debate, he concluded, "We grew up watching Messi and Cristiano. They taught us a lot about football. They have been competing for a long time. For me, Leo is one of the best players in this sport, indeed one of its kings."