Tickets for Messi's farewell match with Argentina sold out in two hours

Tickets for the match between Argentina and Benin, scheduled for October 6, which will mark the farewell appearance of star Lionel Messi in his national team jersey, sold out in less than two hours after going on sale. The ticket sales witnessed massive fan demand, as the Argentine Football Association was able to sell a significantly larger number of tickets, with only around 80,000 tickets available for the match set to be held at the Monumental Stadium in the capital, Buenos Aires, according to the German news agency. Messi had announced his departure from the Argentine national team after a 21-year international career at the end of last August, before coach Lionel Scaloni decided to recall him for the match against Benin, aiming to give him a farewell befitting his journey with the national team. Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, said that Messi accepted the invitation, noting that invitations were also extended to all the players who won the 2022 World Cup with him and their families, in a night he described as "the last dance of the best player in the world." Messi holds the record for the most appearances and goals for the Argentine national team, having played 207 international matches and scored 125 goals. He also won the 2022 World Cup, reached the finals in 2014 and 2026, and won two Copa America titles. The match against Benin will conclude a series of three friendly matches played by the Argentine national team during the current international break. Argentina will face Bolivia on September 30 in Cordoba, then Burkina Faso on October 3 in the capital, Buenos Aires, before closing out their schedule with the match against Benin on the 6th of the same month, in a night expected to be dedicated to bidding farewell to Messi.