Situated next to Nigeria, Benin is a small West African nation whose footballers often play in foreign leagues, yet the country has never been in the global spotlight.
On 6 October, the Benin Cheetahs will welcome Argentina in the capital for a friendly that will become the player‑of‑the‑year’s last international appearance.
Argentina’s squad will wear a special edition kit that commemorates Messi’s career, and the club shirt he will display could become one of the most expensive match‑worn jerseys for decades.
Benin’s team includes Steve Mounie, the club captain of FC Augsburg who has also played for Huddersfield Town. Mounie, undergoing recovery, travelled to Buenos Aires to support his teammates and to meet Messi on the pitch, even purchasing his own travel fare to do so.
While the result of this friendly will likely have minor tactical implications, the opportunity to glimpse Messi’s farewell match and perhaps find his shirt in circulation will be treasured by collectors and fans worldwide.
Argentina warmed up for the fixture by demolishing Burkina Faso 7‑0, a scoreline that many expect for the upcoming match. It is unlikely that Messi will complete a full game; the players anticipate a late substitution to allow the Argentine to kiss the field goodbye.
Collectors warn that the last shirt worn by Messi will be priceless, with experts comparing it to Maradona’s 1986 World Cup jersey that sold for £7.1m and Zidane’s final France shirt.
In Buenos Aires, shops are already stocking up in anticipation of the demand for Messi’s match‑worn jersey, after a surge in fan enthusiasm this week.
