Lionel Messi will wear Argentina's iconic sky blue-and-white shirt for the final time on Tuesday, bringing down the curtain on a remarkable 21-year international career.
The 39-year-old will make his farewell appearance against Benin at Buenos Aires' Estadio Monumental, where around 85,000 supporters are expected to witness the final chapter of one of football's greatest international careers.
Millions more are expected to follow the match around the world as Argentina's record appearance-maker says goodbye to the national team.
Messi's retirement comes two-and-a-half months after Argentina's World Cup final defeat by Spain.
"I gave it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players coming up who deserve their chance," Messi said when announcing his international retirement in August.
On Monday, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner took part in his final Argentina training session at the national team's complex in Ezeiza, which bears his name.
"You can't ask for more, that's it," Argentina supporter Nahuel Nieva, who took the day off work to watch Messi train, told AFP.
Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until 2028. However, following the death of his father, Jorge, two months ago, he suggested he could retire from football altogether sooner than previously expected.
Argentina have spared no effort in preparing a fitting farewell for a player widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Several members of the squad who helped Messi reach the pinnacle of international football in Qatar will feature against Benin. Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez are among those expected to form the core of Argentina's post-Messi generation.
Following the match, the captain's armband will pass to Romero.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni has acknowledged the challenge of filling the enormous "void" left by his captain, although Argentina's emerging generation has already offered reasons for optimism.
In their first matches since the World Cup final, and without Messi, Argentina beat Bolivia 4-0 in Cordoba before producing an emphatic 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso at the Monumental.
Franco Mastantuono and Gianluca Prestianni, regarded as two of Argentina's brightest young talents, both scored their first senior international goals against Burkina Faso.
Those performances helped Argentina move forward from the disappointment of their World Cup final defeat by Spain, a match that also resulted in bans and fines for several Argentina players.
Messi will end his international career as Argentina's most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer, having recorded 125 goals and 68 assists across 207 appearances.
Known as "La Pulga", Messi secured his place alongside Diego Maradona among Argentina's greatest sporting icons when he inspired the country to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, ending a 36-year wait for the trophy.
His international honours also include the 2005 World Youth Championship, the 2008 Olympic title, Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima.
There were painful moments too. Messi experienced defeat against Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, suffered a shock loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final and saw Argentina beaten by Spain in his final World Cup campaign.
But his legacy is ultimately defined by unprecedented individual numbers and the major international trophies that once appeared destined to elude him.
One of the biggest questions surrounding Argentina's post-Messi era is who will inherit the legendary number 10 shirt.
Scaloni has made it clear that the jersey will remain untouched until Messi has played his final game.
"Until Leo's game, we won't give the number 10 to anyone," Scaloni said. "After that, we'll see."
For Argentina, Tuesday represents much more than another international friendly.
It is the end of the Lionel Messi era.
