Benin Were 'Ecstatic' to Share Messi's Farewell Night at the Monumental

Benin never expected the call, but when the invitation came to face Argentina in Lionel Messi's farewell international, Gernot Rohr's young Cheetahs were absolutely ecstatic.

Africa has always been at the heart of Messi's story

Benin assistant coach Tunde Adelakun spotted the symmetry long before the ball was kicked at the Monumental. Twenty-one years separated the night, yet Africa bookended Lionel Messi's international career: he first announced himself on the world stage by beating Nigeria in the 2005 Under-20 World Cup final, and he closed his Argentina story against another African side.

Adelakun was present for the first act. Speaking to BBC Sport Africa ahead of the farewell, he recalled being in the stadium when a teenage Messi finished the 2005 youth tournament as its most valuable player after Argentina's victory over Nigeria. To the Benin camp, being invited to witness the final act carried the same weight.

"Africa has been at the heart of Messi's remarkable career," Adelakun told BBC Sport Africa, adding that Benin's presence at the farewell was a source of pride for the entire delegation. For a nation ranked 93rd in the world and still chasing a first-ever World Cup appearance, the fixture was never just a friendly — it was a piece of football history.

The surprise invitation nobody saw coming

The Argentine Football Association organised the October 6 friendly specifically as Messi's send-off, and its choice of opponent raised eyebrows across two continents. Benin had no prior link to Argentina, and within the Cheetahs' camp the invitation landed as a genuine shock.

"Everybody was absolutely ecstatic," Adelakun admitted, describing the moment the squad learned they would travel to Buenos Aires. The timing made it even more surprising: the call came while Benin were in the middle of preparing for two critical Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, with full focus on the road ahead in continental competition.

Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia framed the fixture as the occasion Messi deserved after a 21-year international career. The 39-year-old had announced his retirement from national-team duty on August 31, weeks after Argentina's defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in the United States, and agreed to one final appearance in front of his home supporters.

Rohr's third dance with Argentina — and a jersey story

For head coach Gernot Rohr, the Buenos Aires trip carried deep personal significance. The Franco-German trainer had already crossed paths with Argentina twice during his time in charge of Nigeria's Super Eagles between 2016 and 2021: a 4-2 friendly victory in Russia and a narrow 2-1 defeat in the group stage of the 2018 World Cup, where a Messi-inspired Argentina denied Nigeria a place in the knockout rounds.

"It will be the third time I will play against this team," Rohr told NationSports ahead of the friendly, recalling his earlier meetings fondly. The 2018 encounter in particular had left him with a treasured souvenir: Messi handed him his shirt after the match in Russia.

Eight years later, Rohr hoped history would repeat itself with a signature. "I still have the jersey from Messi," he said. "He gave it to me in Russia, so he will give me a signature, I hope, this time." It was a small, human detail that captured what the night meant even to a coach with decades of experience at the highest level.

Qualifiers came first

Despite the excitement, Rohr was careful to keep priorities straight. Benin opened their 2027 AFCON qualifying campaign with a 1-1 draw away to Burkina Faso before beating Mauritania 2-1, and the coach insisted the Argentina trip would not distract from the qualifying business.

"At first, we have two AFCON qualifiers — very important matches," Rohr said in September, noting that Benin would play both qualifiers away from home, with the Mauritania fixture staged in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. Only after that demanding schedule would the squad turn its attention to Buenos Aires.

Rohr described the overall experience as "a big honour for Benin and for our young team," and predicted the trip would leave a lasting mark on his squad. "It's going to be a big experience for the young players and for everybody — for the staff, for the people of the federation," he said.

"A bit of a party with Messi" — but no tourists

Rohr never pretended Benin were travelling to South America simply to watch Messi say goodbye. He told BBC Sport Africa his side would enjoy "a bit of a party with Messi," while stressing they were not going to Buenos Aires just to make up the numbers.

The competitive edge was real. Goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou had already promised he would try to save anything Messi sent his way, insisting the Cheetahs had come to compete rather than sightsee. Rohr's squad understood the assignment: honour the occasion, but play it.

That blend of reverence and professionalism defined Benin's approach all week. They embraced the ceremony of the farewell while preparing for it like any other international fixture — exactly the attitude their coach had drilled into them throughout the qualifiers.

The night itself: Messi's final masterclass

On October 6, more than 85,000 fans packed the Monumental to watch Messi pull on the Argentina shirt for the 208th and final time. The captain delivered one last masterclass: he scored from the penalty spot and set up both of the other goals as Argentina swept to a 3-0 victory over Benin.

For the Benin players, the scoreline mattered less than the moment. They had shared the pitch with the greatest player of his generation on the night he closed a 21-year international career — a career that began against Nigeria in 2005 and ended against the Cheetahs in Buenos Aires.

After the final whistle, the party continued long into the Buenos Aires night, with tributes pouring in from across the football world. Security kept the post-match formalities tight — Benin players were prevented from swapping shirts or taking photos with Messi — but nothing could take away the memory of the night itself.

What the night means for Benin's future

Benin's part in Messi's farewell will live on as a footnote in football history, but within the camp the night served a bigger purpose. Rohr is building a young squad for a serious AFCON qualifying campaign, and giving those players an evening at a sold-out Monumental against the world champions was an education no training session could provide.

The Cheetahs returned to Africa with their qualifying campaign still on track and a story to tell for decades: they were there, on the pitch, when Lionel Messi said goodbye to Argentina. Africa was at the heart of the beginning of his career, as Adelakun noted — and on an October night in Buenos Aires, Africa was there for the end of it too.

Questions people ask

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