Lionel Messi has been called up to the Argentina national team for a friendly against Benin on Oct. 6 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, marking his final game with La Albiceleste. Argentina federation president Claudio Tapia confirmed the match will be dedicated to Messi, giving him a proper send-off after he announced his retirement from international soccer.

"We have decided to invite the best player in the world, our national team emblem, our captain, Lionel Andrés Messi, so he can have the goodbye he truly deserves on Oct. 6 here in Argentina," Tapia said. He added that all 2022 World Cup winners who played with Messi in Qatar are invited, along with their families.

Messi announced his retirement on Aug. 31. He departs as Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most capped player, with 125 goals in 207 games. Argentina faces Bolivia on Sept. 30 and Burkina Faso on Oct. 3 before hosting Benin. Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso will also join exclusively for the Benin match.