Argentina captain and football icon Lionel Messi has unveiled the special jersey he will wear in what is set to be his final appearance for the national team.
Messi revealed the shirt on Monday, September 21, 2026, in a video shared on social media, accompanied by the message: “Last match… A jersey for a lifetime.”
The 39-year-old is scheduled to play his final match for Argentina on October 6, when the 2026 World Cup runners-up face Benin in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The match has been organised as a farewell for Messi following his decision to retire from international football.
The special jersey maintains Argentina’s traditional sky-blue and white colours but features a distinctive design. Messi’s name and number 10 appear in gold, while the shirt also carries the Sun of May motif associated with Argentina.
The farewell match is expected to bring together several players who helped Argentina win the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with AFA president Claudio Tapia describing the occasion as a deserved farewell for the national-team icon.
Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31, following Argentina’s 0-1 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. He said the decision was painful but that he had given everything he could to the national team.
The forward leaves international football as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading scorer, with 207 appearances and 125 goals. He also helped the country win the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles and the 2022 World Cup.
Messi is currently continuing his club career with Inter Miami in the United States. His October 6 appearance against Benin is expected to mark the final chapter of his more than two-decade career with Argentina.
KIGALI TIMES