Argentina close this international window by hosting Benin in a friendly at Estadio Monumental that takes on extra significance as Lionel Messi makes his 208th and final international appearance.
Match News and Current Form
While Messi prepares to bid an emotional farewell to international football after playing more games (207) and scoring more goals (125) for Argentina than any other player, head coach Lionel Scaloni already has one eye on the future. Some of the younger players brought into his squad have already been involved in comfortable friendly wins over Bolivia (4-0) and Burkina Faso (7-0), offering a positive glimpse of a future without Messi. With members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad invited to attend this fixture, La Albiceleste aim to give the 39-year-old a fitting send-off by extending their ten-match unbeaten run at home that stretches back to November 2023 (W9, D1).
Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has insisted he doesn’t want his side to simply turn up and take part in Messi’s celebration, so he’ll be pushing his players to compete strongly despite this being a huge step up from what they are used to. They come into this game having lost just one of their last six internationals (W3, D2), including an unbeaten start to their Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign (W1, D1), so they arrive with positive momentum of their own. Travelling certainly shouldn’t faze the Cheetahs as they haven’t played in Benin since June 2023!
Head-to-Head History
This is the first H2H between these two teams and Benin’s first-ever meeting with a South American nation. Argentina have won 24 of their 31 previous matches against African opponents (D3, L4).
Hot Stats and Streaks
Argentina scored between the 85th minute and full-time in three of their last four matches.
Argentina have kept a clean sheet in four of their last five home fixtures (W5).
There was at least one goal in both halves of each of Benin’s last four games.
Benin scored exactly once in each of their last three away matches.
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Bidding to add to his tally of 125 international goals, Messi comes into this having scored in each of his last four club outings, while he registered 12 goal contributions during the 2026 World Cup for Argentina (G8, A4). Aiyegun Tosin has scored after the 65th minute in two of Benin’s last six games, completing the scoring on both occasions.
Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes are suspended for Argentina while Benin are missing experienced forward Steve Mounié through injury.
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Betting Analysis
The clear gulf in class between these two teams makes the handicap market the place to look for value, and one option is to back Argentina to win by four goals or more.
Author: John Pennington