Benin prepares to host Argentina in a friendly match featuring Lionel Messi's final appearance for his national team. Steve Mounie, Benin's captain and FC Augsburg forward, expressed excitement at facing the legendary attacker, calling it the "cherry on top" of a big event for his nation. Though Mounie missed the game due to injury, he traveled to Estadio Monumental at his own expense to support the team.
He praised Benin's disciplined, young squad and likened the Argentinian unit to a family, with Messi as its father figure. Argentina enters the match after a dominant 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso. Football memorabilia expert Doug Bierton highlighted the historical significance of the event, predicting fierce competition for Messi's match-worn shirt.
He compared the anticipated demand to that of Diego Maradona's iconic 1986 World Cup jersey, which sold for £7.1m. Bierton noted that even Messi's teammates and kit staff will likely pursue the shirt as a retirement memento, making the friendly a potentially record-breaking event for collectors.
Source: BBC Sport Football · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing