Lionel Messi could be set for one final emotional appearance in the famous blue and white of Argentina as the football icon prepares to formally say goodbye to the national team.
The 39-year-old Argentine superstar announced his retirement from international football on August 31, bringing the curtain down on an extraordinary 21-year association with the Albiceleste.
However, reports from Argentina indicate that Messi’s name has been included on the preliminary list for the national team’s upcoming international fixtures, raising hopes that supporters will get the opportunity to see their legendary captain wear the Argentina shirt one final time.
The reported farewell would come after Argentina’s heartbreaking defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, which had initially appeared to be Messi’s final match for his country.
According to reports, Argentina are preparing for a series of friendly matches during the upcoming FIFA international window, which runs from September 21 to October 6.
The fixtures are scheduled to see Argentina face Bolivia on September 30 in Córdoba, before meeting Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6, with the latter two matches set to be played at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.
It remains unclear which of the matches would serve as Messi’s farewell appearance. The expectation, however, is that Argentina could use one of the home fixtures to give the legendary No.10 a memorable send-off in front of thousands of supporters.
The Monumental, one of the most iconic football stadiums in Argentina, would provide a fitting setting for what could be Messi’s final appearance for the national team. Messi leaves the Argentina national team as the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer.
He made his senior debut in 2005 and went on to make 207 appearances, scoring 125 goals for the national team.
His journey with Argentina was not always smooth. For years, Messi endured intense criticism from sections of the Argentine public, particularly after losing several major finals. He was repeatedly compared with the legendary Diego Maradona and faced questions over whether he could replicate his club success on the international stage.
But everything changed when Argentina finally won the Copa América in 2021. That triumph was followed by victory in the 2022 Finalissima against Italy and, most importantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Messi subsequently helped Argentina retain the Copa América title in 2024, further cementing his place among the greatest players in the country’s history.
Messi’s final competitive appearance for Argentina came in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain. Argentina ultimately suffered defeat, denying Messi the perfect ending to his international career.
Despite the disappointment, Messi’s campaign was remarkable. At 39, he remained one of Argentina’s most influential players and finished the tournament with eight goals.
After the tournament, Messi eventually confirmed that he would no longer play for the national team.
In his farewell message, the Argentine star said the decision was painful but that he felt the time had come to close that chapter of his career.
Messi Retires From International Football: Argentina Faces A New Reality
The Argentine Football Association subsequently paid tribute to Messi, describing his contribution to the national team as an extraordinary legacy spanning more than two decades.
The reported farewell appearance would give Messi something the World Cup final could not provide — an opportunity to say goodbye on his own terms, in front of Argentine supporters.
It would also allow fans to celebrate the player who transformed Argentina’s fortunes and eventually delivered the major trophies they had desperately wanted.
Reports indicate that Messi’s inclusion on the preliminary squad list has been discussed by Argentine football journalist Federico Bueno, although the final 26-man squad and Messi’s participation have yet to be officially confirmed.
But if he does take to the pitch during the upcoming international window, the occasion is expected to be far more than an ordinary friendly. It could be the final chapter of one of the greatest international careers football has ever witnessed.
If the reports prove correct, Lionel Messi’s farewell will not simply mark the end of his Argentina career. It will mark the closing of one of the most remarkable chapters in the history of international football.