{"id":33349,"date":"2026-10-06T18:01:35","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T18:01:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=33349"},"modified":"2026-10-06T18:01:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T18:01:35","slug":"we-would-not-be-marking-messi-benin-defenders-heartwarming-message-ahead-of-argentina-icons-farewell-football-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=33349","title":{"rendered":"\u2018We would not be marking Messi\u2019: Benin defender\u2019s heartwarming message ahead of Argentina icon\u2019s farewell | Football News"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-134747068,imgsize-120763,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/lionel-messi.jpg\" alt=\"\u2018We would not be marking Messi\u2019: Benin defender\u2019s heartwarming message ahead of Argentina icon\u2019s farewell\" title=\"Argentina's Lionel Messi trains for his final game with the national team. (AP Photo)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"Argentina's Lionel Messi trains for his final game with the national team. (AP Photo)\">Argentina&#8217;s Lionel Messi trains for his final game with the national team. (AP Photo)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Benin defender Mohamed Tijani has offered a heartwarming perspective ahead of Lionel Messi\u2019s final international appearance for Argentina, saying his team will not man-mark the legendary forward but instead savour the opportunity to share the pitch with one of football\u2019s greatest icons.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>Argentina face Benin in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, with the match set to mark Messi\u2019s farewell in the famous blue-and-white shirt. The occasion has been billed as an emotional celebration of the 39-year-old\u2019s extraordinary international career, with thousands of fans expected to turn out to bid farewell to their captain.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>Speaking to Argentine outlet C5N ahead of the game, Tijani made it clear that stopping Messi would not be the only priority for Benin.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"10\"\/>\u201cWe would not be marking Messi. We will just enjoy this match. I will watch him and say: Messi, you are a legend,\u201d Tijani said, as quoted by Goal.com.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"12\"\/>The Benin defender\u2019s admiration for Messi goes even further. According to Goal.com, Tijani said he hoped Argentina would win the farewell match, despite his own side being the opposition.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"14\"\/>\u201cWe will do our utmost to ensure this celebration is perfect,\u201d Tijani said, speaking about Messi\u2019s final international outing.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"17\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Messi\u2019s final bow for Argentina<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"19\"\/>Messi announced his decision to retire from international football on September 1, following Argentina\u2019s 0-1 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. He had previously retired from international duty in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile, but reversed that decision and subsequently enjoyed the most successful period of his international career.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"21\"\/>Messi led Argentina to Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024 before finally achieving his long-held dream of winning the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. <!-- -->Argentina defeated France on penalties in the final after a thrilling 3-3 draw.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"25\"\/>His farewell comes after a record-breaking international career. Messi is Argentina\u2019s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for his country. He has also scored 21 goals across six World Cup appearances.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"28\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>A farewell to remember<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>Messi\u2019s final international appearance is expected to be an emotional occasion at the Monumental, where more than 85,000 supporters are set to witness the Argentine great take the field for one last time for his country.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"33\"\/>The Argentine Football Association has described the occasion as one that will \u201ctranscend sports\u201d and be filled with emotion. Messi himself reflected on the significance of the moment after joining up with the Argentina squad for the final time.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"35\"\/>\u201cSpecial moments I know I will miss,\u201d Messi wrote on social media.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"37\"\/>While his international career is coming to an end, Messi will continue playing club football for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/football\/top-stories\/we-would-not-be-marking-messi-benin-defenders-heartwarming-message-ahead-of-argentina-icons-farewell\/articleshow\/134746913.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Argentina&#8217;s Lionel Messi trains for his final game with the national team. (AP Photo) Benin defender Mohamed Tijani has offered a heartwarming perspective ahead of Lionel Messi\u2019s final international appearance for Argentina, saying his team will not man-mark the legendary forward but instead savour the opportunity to share the pitch with one of football\u2019s greatest [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":33350,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-33349","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"Argentina&#8217;s Lionel Messi trains for his final game with the national team. (AP Photo) Benin defender Mohamed Tijani has offered a heartwarming perspective ahead of Lionel Messi\u2019s final international appearance for Argentina, saying his team will not man-mark the legendary forward but instead savour the opportunity to share the pitch with one of football\u2019s greatest [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36"],"magazineBlocksPostViewCount":2,"magazineBlocksPostReadTime":3,"magazine_blocks_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg",400,225,false],"medium":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg",300,169,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791309697_lionel-messi.jpg",150,84,false]},"magazine_blocks_author":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/author\/admin"},"magazine_blocks_comment":0,"magazine_blocks_author_image":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g","magazine_blocks_category":"<a href=\"#\" class=\"category-link category-link-31\">\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 \u0b2c\u0b3f\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36<\/a>","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33349","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=33349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/33350"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=33349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=33349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=33349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}