Argentina is set to face Benin in their last international friendly in this break at the Estadio Monumental, as the whole country is preparing for this historic encounter, which will mark the last international match of Lionel Messi as he retires from the national team.
Argentina vs Benin – Match preview and team news
- Date: Wednesday, 7th October.
- Kick-off: 12am BST.
- Venue: Estadio Monumental, Ciudad de Bueno.
Argentina team news
Argentina is preparing for a highly emotional night at the Estadio Mâs Monumental, centered around global superstar Lionel Messi, who has been handed a special call-up for what is set to be his final match for the national team following his post-2026 World Cup retirement.
To honour Messi’s farewell, long-time companions Nicolás Otamendi, Rodrigo de Paul, and Giovani Lo Celso are heavily tipped to return to the starting XI after being rested or left out recently.
However, head coach Lionel Scaloni faces notable defensive headaches. Right-back Nahuel Molina and midfielder Leandro Paredes are both completely ruled out of the fixture due to suspensions.
Furthermore, Juan Foyth and Thiago Almada had to withdraw from the squad due to lingering injuries, while left-back Nicolas Tagliafico remains a major doubt following an injury issue.
Benin team news
Administrative complications have disrupted the team’s defensive plans, as right-back Abdoul Rachid Moumini was unable to secure travel clearance to Argentina and will miss the match entirely.
The attack is also short on experience, with veteran forward Steve Mounié completely sidelined due to an injury. In midfield, Dokou Dodo has already returned to his club side, Arab Contractors, following appearances earlier in the international break.
On a positive note, Rohr has called up uncapped 21-year-old forward Sahid Ngobi, who is hoping to make his international debut on this historic stage.
In Mounié’s absence, FC Lorient forward Aiyegun Tosin is expected to shoulder the goalscoring burden and lead the line for the Cheetahs.
Form
Argentina
Argentina enters this fixture in devastating form, fresh off two dominant friendly victories in the current international window. They demolished Burkina Faso 7–0 and comfortable brushed past Bolivia 4–0, scoring 11 goals without conceding a single one. Their only recent blemish across their last six outings was a narrow 1–0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, solidifying their position as heavy favorites.
Benin
Benin arrives with mixed momentum but a resilient recent streak, suffering two defeats in their last five matches. The Cheetahs bounced back strongly in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. They secured a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Burkina Faso before pulling off a crucial 2–1 victory over Mauritania last week.
Predicted lineups
Argentina: Martinez; Giay, Otamendi, Romero, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Lo Celso, Paz; Messi, Alvarez
Benin: Djandjinou; Azongnitode, Roche, Tijani, Ourou; Hassane, D’Almeida; Aloko, Olaitan, Ourorou; Tosin
How to watch Argentina vs Benin?
You can watch the Argentina vs Benin match live in the UK exclusively through Premier Sports.
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