Unfortunately, that day is fast approaching. On Wednesday, just after midnight our time, Lionel Messi will take to the pitch for the last time in Argentina’s blue-and-white shirt. After 208 appearances, and we will see whether he can add to his tally of 125 goals, the fantastic Gauchos will bid farewell to their national team. Their opponents will be Benin, perhaps not quite the ideal choice for the spectacle expected at the Monumental, but that will do little to diminish the emotions among millions of football fans and the privileged few who will be inside the stadium. The dress rehearsal for the saddest party in the world took place last night against Burkina Faso. Struggling with travel problems on their way to Buenos Aires and fielding a side made up mostly of players under the age of 23, the African team proved easy prey for Lionel Scaloni’s men, who ran out 7–0 winners.Gianluca Prestianni goal in Argentina vs Burkina Faso game. https://t.co/pehF8gbXk0— Daily Foot Vibes (@dailyfootvibes) October 4, 2026 The hosts had already put five goals past their opponents by half-time. It is debatable whether Burkina Faso would have offered much stiffer resistance had Nasser Djiga, Edmond Tapsoba, Arsene Kouassi, Lassina Traore and the other regular starters been on the pitch. In any case, the youthful squad that arrived in Argentina just hours before kick-off, following the cancellation of its original flight from Morocco, failed to make a good impression against an in-form opponent.Franco Mastantuono goal in Argentina vs Burkina Faso game. https://t.co/SO0DzTwi9A— Daily Foot Vibes (@dailyfootvibes) October 4, 2026 This was Argentina’s second friendly since this World Cup, where they lost the final to Spain, and their second since Messi announced his retirement from international football. They delivered an even more convincing performance than against Bolivia, whom they defeated 4–0. Two young forwards scored their first goals for the senior national team: Gianluca Prestianni and Franco Mastantuono. The Benfica winger also provided an assist for Julian Álvarez late in the first half. The other goals came from Lautaro Martínez, who scored from the rebound after his penalty was saved, Moumouni Diallo, who put the ball into his own net in the eighth minute to make it 2–0, Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone, who rounded off the scoring in second-half stoppage time.Julian Alvarez goal in Argentina vs Burkina Faso game. Prestianni assist. https://t.co/Y5kxlMKlmz— Daily Foot Vibes (@dailyfootvibes) October 4, 2026 Scaloni, who is still negotiating with the Argentine Football Association’s leadership over his future as head coach, used the match to give Roma’s Matías Soule and Estudiantes’ Tomás Palacios their debuts for Argentina’s senior team. Boca’s Lionel Flores, who had played only a few minutes against Bolivia, was also given more time to show what he could do on a bigger stage. All three came on at the start of the second half, while another Roma player, Santiago Castro, made his senior international debut late in the game. There will be plenty of tears on Wednesday as Argentina bid farewell to Messi, but the Gauchos’ preparations for life without him are already well underway. And there is no doubt that Argentina will remain a global football powerhouse.21:45: (4.05) Greece (3.90) Germany (1.85)
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