The captain of the Argentine national team, Lionel Messi, arrived in Rosario with his family on Friday, four days before his official farewell against Benin. The arrival came earlier than expected, as his incorporation was expected after the friendly match against Burkina Faso this week.
Arrival in Rosario and preparation
Messi’s private flight, his wife Antonela Roccuzzo, his children Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro, and his mother, Celia Cuccittini, landed at 7.00 a.m. local time (10.00 GMT) at the Islas Malvinas International Airport, located about 300 kilometers from the capital. The footballer settled in his residence in Funes, an adjacent locality, where he will stay during the weekend before joining the concentration led by Lionel Scaloni.
The context of the friendly match against Benin
The match, scheduled for Tuesday, October 6 at the Monumental Stadium, will be Messi’s last appearance with the Albiceleste. The AFA has announced that the day will include a tribute to the captain, and the tickets sold out in minutes.
Decision to retire and career
The Argentine idol announced his retirement on August 31 with the phrase: “I’m empty. I don’t have anything left to give”. The decision, influenced by the defeat in the final of the World Cup 2022 and the death of his father Jorge, comes after 18 years with the national team.
Messi made his debut on August 17, 2005 against Hungary and has accumulated 207 games, 125 goals, and 68 assists, becoming the top scorer in the country’s history. His titles include the 2022 World Cup, two Copa America titles (2021 and 2024) and the 2022 Finalissima.
Recent matches and the future of the Albiceleste
On Tuesday, the team also faced Bolivia in Cordoba, with a 4-0 victory that marks the beginning of a replacement era under Scaloni, with a view to the next Copa America and the 2026 World Cup.
Credits: deultimominuto.com
