Lionel Messi has received an invitation from Argentina to make a farewell appearance in October after retiring from international football.
Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), confirmed the invitation on Tuesday.
“We invited the best player in the world to play, the icon of our selection, our captain Lionel Andres Messi, to have a deserved farewell on October 6, here in Argentina,” Tapia said on social media.
Argentina will face Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium on October 6. The AFA has invited Messi to feature in the game as he prepares to end his international career.
The team will also face Bolivia at Cordoba’s Mario Kempes Stadium on September 30. Argentina will then host Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires on October 3.
Messi announced his international retirement last month. The October 6 game could therefore give Argentina fans a chance to celebrate his career with the national team.
The Bolivia match will take place at 50 per cent capacity. FIFA restricted incidents during this year’s World Cup.
Argentina will also miss three players because of suspensions. Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban. Nahuel Molina will serve a seven-match suspension, while Thiago Almada has a one-match ban.
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