Lionel Messi is about to suit up for Argentina one last time, hitting his 208th appearance for the national squad. The man, the legend, Argentina’s most-capped player and record goalscorer, is saying an emotional farewell in a friendly against Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires this Tuesday. It’s Wednesday 00:00 BST for us, so set those alarms. Messi called it quits from the national team back on August 31, just six weeks after that heartbreaking World Cup final loss to Spain, telling everyone he had “nothing more to give.” Coach Lionel Scaloni even said he could change his mind, no shame in it, but honestly, that chapter feels slammed shut.
The Icon’s Exit: One Last Tango
It’s wild to think about, right? Messi, arguably Argentina’s greatest ever, second only to Maradona in that conversation, walking away from the blue and white. He’s literally given it his all, leaving a legacy that’ll echo forever. The guy has been a force of nature, a living highlight reel for almost two decades on the international stage. You can’t fault him for saying he’s got nothing left when you look at everything he’s achieved. That final match against Benin is going to be pure emotion. Imagine being in that stadium for his last hurrah, celebrating a career that redefined football for a generation. It’s a moment that’s gonna stick with fans around the globe, seeing one of the greats finish his international run.
Beyond the Pitch: Building a Business Kingdom
But here’s the kicker: his club career? That’s still full steam ahead. His contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of the 2028 season, and get this, it’s reviewed annually. Nobody close to him expects him to hang up his boots a day before he has to. In fact, it’s totally on the table that he renews if he’s feeling it, mentally and physically. And what comes after Miami? People around him just smile. Messi isn’t one to plan past the next game, but we’re seeing the blueprint for his future already. He’s staying in football, no doubt, because he’d struggle without it, but his business moves are stretching way beyond the touchline.
Messi apparently likes the idea of being an owner, shaping a club’s direction from a distance, rather than living and dying by every Saturday as a coach. And he’s not just a rubber-stamp kind of owner, either. He wants to be involved in everything. The groundwork is already happening in Spain. He bought UE Cornella, a fifth-tier club near Barcelona, back in April to be a nursery for young talent. Then, on October 1, CD Eldense in the second division announced Messi as their new owner, pending authorization. Eldense is going to be the main club for his football operation, though the target this season is simply to avoid relegation, so former Villarreal boss Javi Calleja is already in place. Messi is following every Eldense match like a hawk on his computer, even dropping an Instagram post, “Aupa Deportivo,” after their 4-1 win over Real Oviedo. The pull of his name is massive, too. A dozen sponsors jumped on board in just days after he arrived. He even co-founded Deportivo LSM with Luis Suarez in Uruguay in May 2025, and they got promoted to the third tier in their first season! While a bigger network of clubs was discussed, the costs quickly cooled that idea. For now, his focus is solidifying Eldense in La Liga. Oh, and here’s a cool bonus: his Inter Miami contract gives him shares in the club when he retires. So yeah, the guy isn’t just a player; he’s becoming a football mogul.
So, while we’re about to witness one of the most iconic goodbyes in international football history with his final Argentina match against Benin, just know that Messi is already building his next chapter. We’re talking about a guy whose main goal is to see Eldense establish itself in La Liga. The game might be losing him from the international stage, but it’s gaining an empire builder. What a ride this guy is still on!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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