Messi shows special jersey for his Argentina farewell game

Lionel Messi is preparing to wear Argentina’s famous No. 10 one final time, and his farewell will come with a jersey designed specifically for the occasion. The 39-year-old soccer legend revealed the special Argentina farewell jersey ahead of his final international appearance, scheduled for October 6 against Benin at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The friendly will officially close Messi’s extraordinary chapter with La Albiceleste after more than two decades.

Messi offered fans their first close look at the commemorative shirt in a social media video shared on September 21. “Último partido… Una camiseta para toda la vida,” Messi wrote, which  translated to English means: “One last match… A jersey for a lifetime.”

The brief message carries extra weight now that the date of Messi’s final Argentina appearance is set.

What Lionel Messi’s Argentina Farewell Jersey Looks Like

The Messi jersey for the farewell game keeps Argentina’s instantly recognizable sky-blue and white identity while adding several details tied directly to the captain.

Instead of the traditional sequence of alternating stripes, the shirt shown by Messi has a predominantly sky-blue base with a single broad white stripe running vertically through the center. A Sun of May-inspired pattern spreads across the design, connecting the jersey to one of Argentina’s most recognizable national symbols.

The back delivers the detail likely to get the most attention from fans: “MESSI” and his iconic No. 10 appear in gold.

Gold accents also feature elsewhere in the commemorative design, including around the Argentina crest and on the collar and cuffs. The version previewed by Messi also includes his personal “M” mark on the chest.

It is a jersey created for a game that will be unlike any other Argentina appearance of his career. After years of seeing Messi in the No. 10 shirt at World Cups, Copa América tournaments and qualifiers, supporters now know exactly what he will wear for the goodbye.

When Is Lionel Messi’s Final Game for Argentina?

Messi’s farewell match is scheduled for October 6, 2026, when Argentina faces Benin at River Plate’s Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The Argentine Football Association confirmed that Lionel Scaloni’s team will play three home friendlies during the current international window. Argentina faces Bolivia at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba on September 30, followed by Burkina Faso at the Monumental on October 3 and Benin at the same stadium on October 6.

Messi is joining the squad specifically for the final match. Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are also due to participate in the October 6 game.

AFA president Claudio Tapia explained the decision to bring Messi back after his international retirement announcement. “We invited the best player in the world to play, the icon of our selection, our captain Lionel Andres Messi, to have a deserved farewell on October 6, here in Argentina,” Tapia said.

Messi’s Emotional Argentina Retirement Message

The farewell follows Messi’s August 31 announcement that he was retiring from international soccer. Argentina’s official football association subsequently published his retirement message, in which Messi explained just how difficult the decision had been. “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come,” Messi said, according to an English translation reported by Reuters.

Messi said he had always “left everything on the field for this jersey,” explaining that representing his country was about giving supporters joy and making Argentines proud through football.

He also made clear that his connection with the national team will not disappear when he stops playing. “I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team,” he said.

The Argentine Football Association responded to the retirement by thanking its captain, saying his “legacy and professionalism” would remain part of the national team’s history.

Argentina Teammates React to Messi’s Farewell

Messi’s teammates are also beginning to address what Argentina will look like without the player who has defined the national team for much of the past 20 years.

Nicolás Tagliafico acknowledged that the transition will be difficult. “It’s always hard when these things happen,” he said, while adding that the squad has to accept the reality and continue growing.

Alexis Mac Allister focused on gratitude. “There won’t be another like him,” Mac Allister said, describing the upcoming farewell as an emotional occasion and praising Messi’s humility as a teammate.

Messi Already Had One Emotional Monumental Goodbye

The upcoming Benin match will not be the first time Messi has experienced what felt like a farewell at the Monumental. In September 2025, he played his final home World Cup qualifier for Argentina, scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over Venezuela. “Being able to finish this way here is what I’ve always dreamed of,” Messi said after that match.

At the time, Messi knew it could be his last competitive appearance for Argentina on home soil but left open the possibility of returning for a friendly. That possibility has now become his official farewell.

Lionel Messi Leaves Argentina With Historic Records

Messi’s final appearance will cap an international career stretching back more than 20 years.

Following the 2026 World Cup, he stood as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and goalscorer with 207 caps and 125 goals. The statistics tell only part of the story.

After losing the 2014 World Cup final and experiencing several painful Copa América defeats, Messi eventually captained Argentina through its most successful modern period. He won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 FIFA World Cup before Argentina successfully defended the Copa América title in 2024.

The 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar transformed one of the biggest unresolved storylines of Messi’s career. He finally lifted the trophy Argentina had been chasing since Diego Maradona captained the country to victory in 1986.

His final World Cup ended differently. Argentina reached the 2026 final but lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time. Messi announced his international retirement the following month.