Argentine football icon Lionel Messi has admitted he is already feeling the emotional weight of missing the national team setup less than 24 hours before stepping onto the pitch for his final international appearance.
The Albiceleste captain posted a series of images on his official Instagram account from Argentina's final training session at the Argentine Football Association (AFA) complex in Ezeiza, capturing moments with teammates, coaching staff, and AFA President Claudio Tapia. Accompanied by a caption stating, "I know I am going to miss these special moments," the posts highlighted a warm atmosphere as Lionel Scaloni’s squad prepared for Messi’s ceremonial send-off. The farewell match is scheduled to take place at 5:00 AM BST on Wednesday (October 7, 2026) at the historic Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires against Benin. The fixture is expected to feature a full 90-minute appearance by Messi in front of a sold-out crowd, accompanied by live musical performances and attendance by the majority of Argentina's 2022 FIFA World Cup-winning squad. Retiring defender Nicolás Otamendi, alongside Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso, also joined the squad for the historic training session.
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