-
1/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi lifts the trophy after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
-
2/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi holds the winners trophy as he celebrates with fans after Argentina won the World Cup final soccer match against France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
-
3/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates with the trophy in front of the fans after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
-
4/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi holds the trophy aloft as he celebrates with his team at the end of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)
-
5/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi holds up the trophy after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec.18, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
-
-
6/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates his side's their goal as France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris stands during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
-
7/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, scores his side's first goal passing France's goalkeeper Hugo Lloris during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
-
8/17
France's Kylian Mbappe runs past Argentina's Lionel Messi as he retrieves the ball after scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
-
9/17
France's Kylian Mbappe, right, watches Argentina's Lionel Messi, left, during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
-
10/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi scores his side's opening goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec.18, 2022. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
-
-
11/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates scoring his side's first goal during the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
-
12/17
FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi waves after receiving the Golden Ball award for best player of the tournament at the end of the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. Lionel Messi says he is coming to Inter Miami and joining Major League Soccer. After months of speculation, Messi announced his decision Wednesday, June 7, 2023,to join a Miami franchise that has been led by another global soccer icon in David Beckham since its inception but has yet to make any real splashes on the field.(AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
-
13/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi sits with his wife Antonela Roccuzzo after Argentina won the World Cup final soccer match against France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
-
14/17
Inter Miami's and Argentina's national team player Lionel Messi receives the 2023 Ballon d'Or trophy during the 67th Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) award ceremony at Theatre du Chatelet in Paris, France, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)
-
15/17
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi watches from his box on the sideline at the start of an MLS soccer match between Inter Miami and Charlotte FC, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
-
-
16/17
Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi, right, chases the ball during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Charlotte FC, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2023, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/Erik Verduzco)
-
17/17
Argentina's Lionel Messi kicks the ball during a training session on the eve of the World Cup final soccer match in Morristown, N.J., Saturday, July 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi might have one last dance with Argentina after all.
Despite announcing his international retirement, the 39-year-old Inter Miami star was included Tuesday in Lionel Scaloni’s 28-man Argentina squad ahead of three home friendlies.
Messi has yet to confirm whether he will join the team, but the head of Argentina soccer said the icon accepted the invitation for the Oct. 6 game against Benin in Buenos Aires for what will be a grand finale.
“After a conversation with senior national team coach Lionel Scaloni, we decided to invite the best player in the world — our icon, our captain Lionel Messi — so that he can have the farewell he deserves on October 6,” said Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association.
Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and helped the Albiceleste reach the final at the 2026 edition.
“Furthermore, having received Lionel’s acceptance,” Tapia said, “we want to invite all the Qatar World Cup champions to join him, along with their families, to witness the ‘last tango’ of the world’s best player.”
Earlier, Argentina had announced it would face Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin in its first batch of friendly matches following Messi’s retirement from the national team after a 21-year spell.
The country’s soccer association said the home match against Bolivia will take place Sept. 30 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.
The Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires will host the friendlies against Burkina Faso and Benin on Oct. 3 and Oct. 6, respectively.
Focus also turns to the future of Scaloni, whose contract expires in December. Scaloni had hinted he might step down following the 1–0 loss to Spain in the World Cup final on July 19.
Three Argentina players — Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada — were recently handed bans by FIFA for a scuffle after losing the the World Cup final. Paredes received a 10-match ban.
