Messi returns to the Argentina national team for farewell games

In the days before, Argentina also played international matches against Bolivia (September 30th in Córdoba) and against Burkina Faso (October 3rd in Buenos Aires). The three tests are the first international matches after Messi's resignation from the national team at the end of August.

Messi should now “get the farewell he really deserves, here in Argentina,” as AFA President Claudio Tapia announced in a video on X. Messi made the decision to resign after losing the World Cup final against Spain and taking some time to think about it. He had previously played for his country for a total of 21 years. This period included, among other things, the lost World Cup final against Germany in Brazil in 2014 and the long-awaited triumph against France in Qatar in 2022. In 2021 and 2024, Messi led the Argentine team to victory in the Copa América.

Now the 39-year-old is in national coach Lionel Scaloni's squad for one last time. Other World Cup stars are likely to be missing from the Argentinians in the tests against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin. The wild scenes immediately after the final against Spain resulted in some long suspensions: midfielder Leandro Paredes was suspended for ten games, Nahuel Molina for seven games, and Thiago Almada was suspended for one game.