Lionel Messi’s hometown of Rosario has unveiled a 30-metre Argentina shirt bearing his famous No 10 and the words “Gracias 10” ahead of his final match for the national team against Benin on 7 October in Buenos Aires.
The city placed the giant shirt at its national flag memorial as football supporters paid tribute to Messi’s Argentina career. The installation carries a message from fellow Argentines: “Thank you, captain. You gave us everything. You made us believe again, dream of the impossible and gave us unforgettable moments that will stay with us for the rest of our lives.”
Messi will face Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, about 290 kilometres from Rosario. Tickets sold out within moments, according to the source.
The Argentina Football Association has also planned a tribute before and after the match. Artists will perform before kick-off, while Messi will receive a commemorative shirt after the game. Organisers will also show a video featuring key moments from his international career.
Messi spent the final training session laughing and joking with team-mates and coaching staff. After training, he attended a dinner at the Ezeiza training centre named after him. He later posted photographs with his team-mates on social media and said he would miss these moments in the future.
Messi announced his international retirement on 31 August. The Benin match will become his 208th appearance for Argentina. He has scored 125 goals and supplied 68 assists in his previous 207 matches.
