The Last Tango: Lionel Messi unveils the No. 10 he’ll wear for Argentina’s final goodbye

Lionel Messi has given fans a glimpse of the jersey he will wear when he makes his farewell appearance for Argentina on home soil.

Argentina are scheduled to play three friendlies in the country between September 21 and October 6, according to the AFA's official website. Lionel Scaloni's team will take on Bolivia on September 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes stadium in the province of Cordoba, before facing Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6 at River Plate's Stadium.

Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso will be present for the final friendly against Benin on October 6.


Messi shared images of the special shirt on Instagram. It carries his name and iconic number 10 in bold gold, along with a pattern on the back.

"Último partido… Una camiseta para toda la vida One last match… A jersey for a lifetime," posted Messi.

The October 6 game will offer the Argentine great an opportunity to bid farewell to the country's fans and international football on home soil.

Earlier in September, Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, drawing the curtain on a decorated international career that began with his senior debut in 2005. He went on to become Argentina's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, while leading the country to three major international titles. His Argentina record stands at 203 appearances and 203 goals.

For Messi, however, the journey with Argentina was not without setbacks. Years of disappointment preceded the run of major triumphs that eventually defined his international career.

He suffered defeats in the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and the 2016 Copa America final against Chile. Five years later, he helped Argentina end a 28-year wait for a major trophy by winning the 2021 Copa America.

Messi then captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022. He scored twice against France in the final and converted his penalty in the shootout as Argentina prevailed 4-2 after the match finished 3-3 following extra time.

Argentina went on to retain the Copa America title in 2024, giving Messi another major international honour.

His World Cup journey covered six editions, from 2006 through 2026, during which he scored 21 goals in 34 appearances and finished as the second-highest goal-scorer of all time. At the 2026 World Cup, Messi scored eight goals and registered four assists, including his first World Cup hat-trick against Algeria.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner will now step away from international football while continuing his club career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.