Argentina Prepares Special Ceremony for Messi

Argentine star Lionel Messi is preparing for his final match in the national team jersey, as Argentina hosts Benin at 2:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Kuwait time, in a night expected to feature an exceptional celebration bidding farewell to one of the greatest football legends of all time.

Argentina is striving to organize a send-off befitting its captain and icon, presenting a scene distinct from the farewell experienced by Argentine football legend Diego Maradona with the national team.

Messi’s departure has garnered widespread public interest, with more than half a million people accessing the online ticketing platform. Argentine head coach Lionel Scaloni clarified that “it would have been possible to fill five stadiums” with fans eager to attend Messi’s final match for the national team.

The Monumental Stadium, home to River Plate, will host approximately 85,000 spectators. Meanwhile, the Argentine Football Association announced the creation of a large fan zone named “Gracias, Leo” (“Thank you, Leo”) near the stadium, starting from match day afternoon.

Argentina’s players will wear a special jersey featuring names and numbers in gold, designed exclusively for this occasion. The Argentine Football Association has also invited all players from the 2022 World Cup-winning squad who were not included in the current roster to attend the match accompanied by their families.

Although not all details of the tribute ceremony have been disclosed, Argentine media reported on a special program to honor the Inter Miami player.

Several artists are expected to perform before the match kicks off, while the main part of the tribute ceremony is anticipated to take place after the final whistle.

According to TYC Sports, Messi will receive a commemorative plaque and a special jersey, and a video tribute is expected to be displayed on the stadium screens before he delivers a speech to the fans.