Scaloni: I will cry in Messi's farewell match; he deserves a send-off by the fans in the way he wants

Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed on Thursday that the friendly international match between the "Albiceleste" and Benin on October 6 in Buenos Aires will give captain Lionel Messi the opportunity to "say goodbye to the fans in the way he wants."

The coach of the World Cup runners-up in North America this summer said, "It will be hard not to cry on that day, and it is an honor to be there."

Messi, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, announced his international retirement at the age of 39 in late August, but was called up by Scaloni for this farewell match.

The coach explained that he wanted to "lay a brick in this construction" to arrange a final match for the star in front of the Argentine fans.

He added, "I played my part because I want to be present at his farewell ceremony, and since I do not know today whether I will remain here in the future, we did everything in our power to enable him to participate in this match."

Scaloni also believes that the Inter Miami striker, who scored his 100th goal for the American club in early September, deserves to win the Ballon d'Or again on October 26.

The Argentine national team is preparing in Ezeiza, south of Buenos Aires, for three friendly matches: against Bolivia next Wednesday in Cordoba (central part of the country), then against Burkina Faso at the Monumental Stadium on October 3, before facing Benin three days later.

The coach made no comments regarding his future as head coach of the Argentine national team, with his contract set to expire on December 31.

He added, "As for me, there is no news," explaining that he has not yet spoken with Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia.