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Argentina includes Messi in preliminary squad for potential farewell home appearances
The AFA has shortlisted Lionel Messi for three September-October friendlies, giving the retiring legend a chance to say goodbye on home soil after a World Cup final defeat.
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31, 2026. Less than a month later, he might be stepping back onto an Argentine pitch one more time.
The Argentina Football Association has included Messi in its preliminary squad for a trio of home friendlies scheduled across the FIFA international window running from September 21 to October 6. The move signals a clear desire from the AFA to give their greatest-ever player a proper farewell in front of his own fans, after a World Cup campaign that ended in heartbreak.
Three matches, one last chance
Argentina’s post-World Cup restart comes with a busy schedule. The first match is against Bolivia on September 30 at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba. That is followed by back-to-back fixtures at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, against Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6.
The Bolivia fixture comes with a notable asterisk. Attendance will be capped at 50% capacity due to FIFA sanctions, meaning the Kempes stadium will be only half-full for what could be Messi’s penultimate bow. The Monumental games, however, carry no such restriction.
These three friendlies are the first competitive outings for Argentina since their runner-up finish at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they lost to Spain 1-0 in the final on July 19.
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Coach Lionel Scaloni has yet to announce the official 26-man squad, so Messi’s inclusion in the preliminary list does not guarantee his presence.
A retirement that lasted three weeks
Messi’s August 31 retirement announcement came just weeks before Argentina’s return to competitive action. His international career spanned 21 years, beginning in 2005, during which he scored 125 goals for Argentina and led the team to multiple Copa América titles, a Finalissima in 2022, and a World Cup in 2022.
Squad absences and logistical noise
The preliminary squad announcement also confirmed several notable absences through suspension. Leandro Paredes is serving a 10-match ban, Nahuel Molina is out for 7 matches, and Thiago Almada faces a 1-match suspension.