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The 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony took place Monday at the London Palladium theatre, with Harry Kane and Alexia Putellas taking home the top honors. View all the winners of soccer's most prestigious individual accolades below.

Men's Ballon d'Or

Winner: Harry Kane 🏆

The drought is finally over for England.

Kane beat out Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe in one of the closest Ballon d'Or races in recent years.

Kane didn't win the Champions League (or the World Cup) during his magnificent 2025-26 campaign, but the England captain led the Three Lions to a third-place finish in North America in the summer while posting jaw-dropping numbers at club level, too.

The former Tottenham striker scored 73 goals in 65 matches across all competitions last season for club and country, with 61 of those tallies coming for German champions Bayern Munich ... in only 51 games.

Kane is the first Englishman to claim the honor since Michael Owen in 2001.

HARRY KANE IS THE 2026 BALLON D'OR! #ballondor https://t.co/k3CUlwLF1E
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 26, 2026

Kane is just the fifth Three Lions player to hoist the top individual award in men's soccer, joining Owen, Stanley Matthews, Kevin Keegan - who won it twice - and Bobby Charlton.

The prolific 33-year-old is also the fourth-oldest first-time winner of the award.

"It's just the journey. For any young boy or girl who wants to achieve their dream, anything is possible," Kane said onstage after accepting his award from Brazilian great Ronaldo.

"I hope my journey, it wasn't straightforward, I didn't go straight to the top, I had to experience a lot of loan moves and fight my way to get to where I am now. I hope that can give you inspiration, and thank you very much."

The most wide-open Ballon d'Or race in years coalesced around three main candidates in the buildup to the big day: Kane, Mbappe, and Yamal. Perhaps the writing was on the wall, though, as this year's ceremony took place in London - moving from its usual placement in France - to celebrate Matthews winning the inaugural Ballon d'Or in 1956.

Here are the final rankings for the 30 men's nominees:

Rank	Player	Club
1	Harry Kane 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿	Bayern Munich
2	Kylian Mbappe 🇫🇷	Real Madrid
3	Lamine Yamal 🇪🇸	Barcelona
4	Rodri 🇪🇸	Barcelona
5	Lionel Messi 🇦🇷	Inter Miami
6	Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 🇬🇪	PSG
7	Ousmane Dembele 🇫🇷	PSG
8	Erling Haaland 🇳🇴	Manchester City
9	Michael Olise 🇫🇷	Bayern Munich
10	Fabian Ruiz 🇪🇸	PSG
11	Jude Bellingham 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿	Real Madrid
12	Pau Cubarsi 🇪🇸	Barcelona
13	Achraf Hakimi 🇲🇦	PSG
14	Vitinha 🇵🇹	PSG
15	Declan Rice 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿	Arsenal
16	Ferran Torres 🇪🇸	PSG
17	Vinicius Junior 🇧🇷	Real Madrid
18	Marc Cucurella 🇪🇸	Real Madrid
19	Joao Neves 🇵🇹	PSG
20	Willian Pacho 🇪🇨	PSG
21	Gabriel 🇧🇷	Arsenal
22	Lautaro Martinez 🇦🇷	Inter Milan
23	Nuno Mendes 🇵🇹	PSG
24	Luis Diaz 🇨🇴	Bayern Munich
25	Marquinhos 🇧🇷	PSG
26	Dayot Upamecano 🇫🇷	Bayern Munich
27	Bruno Fernandes 🇵🇹	Manchester United
28	Julian Quinones 🇲🇽	Al-Qadsiah
T29	William Saliba 🇫🇷	Arsenal
T29	Sadio Mane 🇸🇳	Al-Nassr

Women's Ballon d'Or

Winner: Alexia Putellas 🏆

Putellas won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for the third time in her decorated career, joining her compatriot and former Barcelona teammate Aitana Bonmati as the only players ever to accomplish the feat. Putellas previously won the prestigious individual award in 2021 and '22.

Putellas, who signed with London City Lionesses in July, stepped up after Bonmati's broken leg and led Barcelona to a historic quadruple last season, including a fourth Champions League title. She recorded 26 goals and 15 assists in 53 matches during the 2025-26 season.

The award completed Putellas' inspirational comeback from a torn ACL suffered in 2022.

"All the boys and girls around the world - if you love football and if you want to play football, play football," Putellas said during her acceptance speech. "It doesn't matter if you're a boy or if you're a girl. It doesn't matter where you come from.

"Don't listen if someone tells you, you can't do it. Believe in yourself."

Spanish players have now won the Ballon d'Or Feminin in six consecutive years. The last non-Spanish woman to claim the award was former USWNT star Megan Rapinoe in 2019.

Best striker

Men's winner: Harry Kane 🏆
Women's winner: Charlyn Corral 🏆

The Gerd Muller Trophy is the lone award of the evening that doesn't require any voting, and is based solely on scoring statistics.

Kane racked up an unbelievable 73 goals for club and country in 2025-26, including 61 in just 51 matches for Bayern Munich. It was a sign of things to come on the night, as he also went on to claim the men's Ballon d'Or to rapturous applause from the crowd in London.

Meanwhile, Corral has continued to find the net with stunning regularity for Pachuca. The Mexican striker scored 22 regular-season goals in the Apertura 2025, breaking her own Liga MX Femenil record, and recorded 13 tallies for her national team.

In total, the 35-year-old forward scored 49 goals in as many matches across all competitions.

Club of the Year

Men's winner: PSG 🏆
Women's winner: Barcelona 🏆

No surprises here.

PSG took home the award for the best men's club of 2026 after defending their Champions League title in dramatic fashion, giving the French outfit consecutive triumphs in this category. French star Ousmane Dembele, last year's Ballon d'Or winner, accepted the trophy on behalf of his team.

Meanwhile, after a brief interlude, Barcelona are back on top of the women's game. The Catalan side was named the best women's team of the year after capturing a quadruple of trophies, including the Women's Champions League. Barca have now captured this honor on the women's side in three of the last four years, with only Arsenal's triumph in 2025 breaking their streak.

Socrates Award

Winner: Bukayo Saka 🏆

The Socrates Award is named after the legendary Brazilian midfielder and recognizes the humanitarian work of players or groups within the sport. It was introduced in 2022.

Saka also put on a show off the field last season. The Arsenal winger was honored Monday for his work with multiple charities that provided medical care and humanitarian aid for children and families in need in London and around the world.

Best Goalkeeper (Yashin Trophy)

Men's winner: Unai Simon 🏆
Women's winner: Cata Coll 🏆

Spain dominates yet another category.

Simon was named the men's Goalkeeper of the Year after starting for Spain at the 2026 World Cup. The Athletic Club veteran helped La Roja build a near-perfect defensive system in North America, notably making an impact with the ball at his feet, too.

Barcelona 'keeper Coll dethroned 2024-25 winner Hannah Hampton to win the women's Goalkeeper of the Year honors this year. She was a key figure in Barca's trophy-laden 2025-26 campaign.

Coach of the Year

Men's winner: Luis de la Fuente 🏆
Women's winner: Pere Romeu 🏆

De la Fuente was named Coach of the Year after building a spectacular Spain team that won the 2026 World Cup in dominant fashion. La Roja's methodical and balanced team went unbeaten in North America in the summer, winning seven of their eight games while allowing just one goal.

Mikel Arteta and Luis Enrique were arguably De la Fuente's biggest threats for the men's Coach of the Year award. Arteta helped Arsenal end their Premier League title drought, while Luis Enrique led Paris Saint-Germain to a second Champions League title. However, De la Fuente's impeccable season in international soccer spoke louder. Unai Emery (Aston Villa) and Vincent Kompany (Bayern Munich) were also nominated.

On the women's side, Romeu was recognized as the game's best tactician after helping Barcelona win four trophies during the 2025-26 season, including the Champions League. He beat out Jonatan Giraldez (OL Lyonnes), Andree Jeglertz (Manchester City), Nils Nielsen (Japan), and Elena Sadiku (Celtic and BK Hacken). Sadiku was the lone female coach among the five nominees; the award recognizes the best coach in women's football, and not necessarily the best female coach.

Best Young Player (Kopa Trophy)

Men's winner: Lamine Yamal 🏆
Women's winner: Vicky Lopez 🏆

It's a sweep for Barcelona and Spain. Again.

Yamal, 19, was a strong candidate to become the first teenager to win the Ballon d'Or, so it only made sense for him to take the Kopa Trophy as the world's best soccer player under 21 years of age again. Yamal has won this award in the last three seasons. He continues to dominate at Barcelona and was also part of Spain's World Cup-winning run.

Yamal beat out several young stars for the 2026 Young Talent of the Year award, including Barcelona and Spain teammate Pau Cubarsi. The stud center-back put on a show as a cornerstone of a stellar La Roja defense that allowed only one goal in eight World Cup matches in the summer.

Vicky Lopez also defended her title, winning the women's Kopa Trophy for a second straight year. The 20-year-old attacker stood out while helping Barcelona achieve a historic quadruple in 2025-26.

Ceremony underway

Originally scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, the Ballon d'Or ceremony was delayed by 30 minutes, reportedly due to heavy traffic in London.

Possible leak?

Organizers appeared to leak the potential result Monday ahead of the ceremony, with "winner" articles being prematurely published on the Ballon d'Or website - and swiftly removed - for each of Kane, Mbappe, and Yamal.

🚨 France Football has accidentally published articles naming Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé as the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner. 🌕 The articles appear to have been prepared for multiple possible outcomes, meaning the winner remains a mystery until the official announcement. France Football has now launched an investigation into how the articles were published. (Source: @MailSport)
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 26, 2026

One for the conspiracy theorists to have fun with, especially in the wake of Kane's eventual triumph.

Back to top

47:T3b20,

Men's Ballon d'Or

Winner: Harry Kane 🏆

The drought is finally over for England.

Kane beat out Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe in one of the closest Ballon d'Or races in recent years.

Kane is the first Englishman to claim the honor since Michael Owen in 2001.

HARRY KANE IS THE 2026 BALLON D'OR! #ballondor https://t.co/k3CUlwLF1E
— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) October 26, 2026

Kane is just the fifth Three Lions player to hoist the top individual award in men's soccer, joining Owen, Stanley Matthews, Kevin Keegan - who won it twice - and Bobby Charlton.

The prolific 33-year-old is also the fourth-oldest first-time winner of the award.

"It's just the journey. For any young boy or girl who wants to achieve their dream, anything is possible," Kane said onstage after accepting his award from Brazilian great Ronaldo.

Here are the final rankings for the 30 men's nominees:

Rank	Player	Club
1	Harry Kane 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿	Bayern Munich
2	Kylian Mbappe 🇫🇷	Real Madrid
3	Lamine Yamal 🇪🇸	Barcelona
4	Rodri 🇪🇸	Barcelona
5	Lionel Messi 🇦🇷	Inter Miami
6	Khvicha Kvaratskhelia 🇬🇪	PSG
7	Ousmane Dembele 🇫🇷	PSG
8	Erling Haaland 🇳🇴	Manchester City
9	Michael Olise 🇫🇷	Bayern Munich
10	Fabian Ruiz 🇪🇸	PSG
11	Jude Bellingham 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿	Real Madrid
12	Pau Cubarsi 🇪🇸	Barcelona
13	Achraf Hakimi 🇲🇦	PSG
14	Vitinha 🇵🇹	PSG
15	Declan Rice 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿	Arsenal
16	Ferran Torres 🇪🇸	PSG
17	Vinicius Junior 🇧🇷	Real Madrid
18	Marc Cucurella 🇪🇸	Real Madrid
19	Joao Neves 🇵🇹	PSG
20	Willian Pacho 🇪🇨	PSG
21	Gabriel 🇧🇷	Arsenal
22	Lautaro Martinez 🇦🇷	Inter Milan
23	Nuno Mendes 🇵🇹	PSG
24	Luis Diaz 🇨🇴	Bayern Munich
25	Marquinhos 🇧🇷	PSG
26	Dayot Upamecano 🇫🇷	Bayern Munich
27	Bruno Fernandes 🇵🇹	Manchester United
28	Julian Quinones 🇲🇽	Al-Qadsiah
T29	William Saliba 🇫🇷	Arsenal
T29	Sadio Mane 🇸🇳	Al-Nassr

Women's Ballon d'Or

Winner: Alexia Putellas 🏆

The award completed Putellas' inspirational comeback from a torn ACL suffered in 2022.

"Don't listen if someone tells you, you can't do it. Believe in yourself."

Spanish players have now won the Ballon d'Or Feminin in six consecutive years. The last non-Spanish woman to claim the award was former USWNT star Megan Rapinoe in 2019.

Best striker

Men's winner: Harry Kane 🏆
Women's winner: Charlyn Corral 🏆

The Gerd Muller Trophy is the lone award of the evening that doesn't require any voting, and is based solely on scoring statistics.

In total, the 35-year-old forward scored 49 goals in as many matches across all competitions.

Club of the Year

Men's winner: PSG 🏆
Women's winner: Barcelona 🏆

No surprises here.

Socrates Award

Winner: Bukayo Saka 🏆

The Socrates Award is named after the legendary Brazilian midfielder and recognizes the humanitarian work of players or groups within the sport. It was introduced in 2022.

Best Goalkeeper (Yashin Trophy)

Men's winner: Unai Simon 🏆
Women's winner: Cata Coll 🏆

Spain dominates yet another category.

Barcelona 'keeper Coll dethroned 2024-25 winner Hannah Hampton to win the women's Goalkeeper of the Year honors this year. She was a key figure in Barca's trophy-laden 2025-26 campaign.

Coach of the Year

Men's winner: Luis de la Fuente 🏆
Women's winner: Pere Romeu 🏆

Best Young Player (Kopa Trophy)

Men's winner: Lamine Yamal 🏆
Women's winner: Vicky Lopez 🏆

It's a sweep for Barcelona and Spain. Again.

Vicky Lopez also defended her title, winning the women's Kopa Trophy for a second straight year. The 20-year-old attacker stood out while helping Barcelona achieve a historic quadruple in 2025-26.

Ceremony underway

Originally scheduled for 4 p.m. ET, the Ballon d'Or ceremony was delayed by 30 minutes, reportedly due to heavy traffic in London.

Possible leak?

🚨 France Football has accidentally published articles naming Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé as the 2026 Ballon d'Or winner. 🌕 The articles appear to have been prepared for multiple possible outcomes, meaning the winner remains a mystery until the official announcement. France Football has now launched an investigation into how the articles were published. (Source: @MailSport)
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) October 26, 2026

One for the conspiracy theorists to have fun with, especially in the wake of Kane's eventual triumph.

Back to top

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HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Emil Forsberg scored an insurance goal early in second-half stoppage time and the New York Red Bulls beat Inter Miami 2-0 on Saturday to stay above the playoff line.

Ethan Horvath finished with two saves for the Red Bulls (11-14-6) to earn his fifth clean sheet through his first 31 starts in the league.

New York, which began the day clinging to the ninth and final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, took the lead in the 7th minute on an own goal by Inter Miami midfielder Carlos Casimiro.

The Red Bulls didn't take a two-goal lead until Forsberg scored in the first minute of stoppage time after subbing in to the match in the 85th. The forward's fourth goal came with assists from Cameron Harper — his second — and Ronald Donkor — his career-high 10th.

Emil Forsberg with the exclamation point! 😤 @NewYorkRedBulls take down Inter Miami https://t.co/MkpMADpwL0
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 24, 2026

Lionel Messi didn't make an appearance until the 56th minute when he replaced Riquelme Fillipi. Messi has 25 goals this season — five more than anyone else entering play — and his 15 assists had him tied with Los Angeles FC's Son Heung-min for the league lead.

Dayne St. Clair saved five shots for Inter Miami (15-6-10).

Inter Miami had gone 3-0-1 in the previous four matchups with the Red Bulls, outscoring them 17-6. The club had won its previous three matches this month by a combined 9-1 score.

49:T722,

HARRISON, N.J. (AP) — Emil Forsberg scored an insurance goal early in second-half stoppage time and the New York Red Bulls beat Inter Miami 2-0 on Saturday to stay above the playoff line.

Ethan Horvath finished with two saves for the Red Bulls (11-14-6) to earn his fifth clean sheet through his first 31 starts in the league.

New York, which began the day clinging to the ninth and final postseason spot in the Eastern Conference, took the lead in the 7th minute on an own goal by Inter Miami midfielder Carlos Casimiro.

Emil Forsberg with the exclamation point! 😤 @NewYorkRedBulls take down Inter Miami https://t.co/MkpMADpwL0
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 24, 2026

Dayne St. Clair saved five shots for Inter Miami (15-6-10).

Inter Miami had gone 3-0-1 in the previous four matchups with the Red Bulls, outscoring them 17-6. The club had won its previous three matches this month by a combined 9-1 score.

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ATLANTA (AP) — Lionel Messi scored two second-half goals four minutes apart as Inter Miami cruised to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United on Saturday night.

Neither team scored until Germán Berterame used assists from Luis Suárez in the final minute of the first half to score his ninth goal in his first 26 MLS appearances.

Messi added his league-leading 24th and 25th goals in the 56th and 60th minutes for a 3-0 advantage.

Messi on the break 1v1? Good luck. Leo has his brace. 🇦🇷 https://t.co/CoI15KzLpw
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 18, 2026

Messi won the Golden Boot Award last season with 29 goals. He and Josef Martínez are the only players in league history to score at least 25 times in a regular season twice.

Berterame has eight assists and Suárez notched his career-high 11th.

Dayne St. Clair had two saves and lost his bid for a clean sheet when Fafà Picault scored on a penalty kick in the 89th minute.

Lucas Hoyos saved two shots for Atlanta United, which played Inter Miami to a 2-2 draw on the road to start September.

4b:T597,

ATLANTA (AP) — Lionel Messi scored two second-half goals four minutes apart as Inter Miami cruised to a 3-1 victory over Atlanta United on Saturday night.

Neither team scored until Germán Berterame used assists from Luis Suárez in the final minute of the first half to score his ninth goal in his first 26 MLS appearances.

Messi added his league-leading 24th and 25th goals in the 56th and 60th minutes for a 3-0 advantage.

Messi on the break 1v1? Good luck. Leo has his brace. 🇦🇷 https://t.co/CoI15KzLpw
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 18, 2026

Messi won the Golden Boot Award last season with 29 goals. He and Josef Martínez are the only players in league history to score at least 25 times in a regular season twice.

Berterame has eight assists and Suárez notched his career-high 11th.

Dayne St. Clair had two saves and lost his bid for a clean sheet when Fafà Picault scored on a penalty kick in the 89th minute.

Lucas Hoyos saved two shots for Atlanta United, which played Inter Miami to a 2-2 draw on the road to start September.

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Rodrigo De Paul scored on an assist from Lionel Messi and Germán Berterame added a goal to send reigning champion Inter Miami back to the MLS playoffs with a 2-0 win over New York City FC on Wednesday night.

Luis Suárez also assisted for Inter Miami, which has won back-to-back matches for the first time since July.

Miami missed the postseason when Messi arrived in 2023, but has reached the playoffs the past three seasons, losing in the first round to Atlanta United in 2024 then beating Vancouver last year to win the club’s first MLS Cup.

Wednesday’s victory came after Miami routed DC United 4-0 last Saturday on a pair of goals from Messi and Suárez, and it was the second league win for new coach Cristian “Kily” González, who took over Sept. 16.

Berterame scored in the 20th for his eighth goal of the season. De Paul doubled Miami’s lead right before the end of the first half. Dayne St. Clair denied Nicolás Fernández on a penalty in the final minute of the match for his second straight clean sheet.

It has been a rollercoaster year for Messi, who led Argentina to its second straight World Cup final and announced his retirement from international soccer a month later. Now, he has a chance to cap it with another trophy.

Up next

NYCFC: Hosts LAFC on Saturday.

Miami: At Atlanta United on Saturday.

___

See AP’s full MLS coverage here

4d:T623,

Luis Suárez also assisted for Inter Miami, which has won back-to-back matches for the first time since July.

Up next

NYCFC: Hosts LAFC on Saturday.

Miami: At Atlanta United on Saturday.

___

See AP’s full MLS coverage here

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MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi scored two goals to give him a league-leading 23 this season, and Inter Miami beat D.C. United 4-0 on Saturday night.

Luis Suárez also scored twice and Germán Berterame had two assists for Inter Miami, which snapped a five-match winless skid. Miami had four draws and one loss before Saturday's outburst.

Four days after playing his farewell match that ended a 21-year tenure with the Argentine national team, Messi played the entire 90 minutes.

The win was Miami's first since a 7-1 rout of CF Montreal on Aug. 29. It was also the first league win for new coach Cristian "Kily" González, who took over Sept. 16.

D.C. United is winless in its last five matches.

Messi scored his first in the 47th minute after Suárez tallied twice in the first half to give Inter Miami a 2-0 lead at the break. Suárez centered a pass near the 6-yard box, where Messi retrieved it and tapped in a shot inside the right post.

Inter Miami padded its lead when Messi struck again in the 60th minute. He received Rodrigo De Paul's pass, dribbled inside the large area and eluded two United defenders to beat goalkeeper Sean Johnson with a shot from 12 yards.

Inter Miami's first scoring threat resulted in Suárez's goal three minutes into the match. Suárez received Berterame's header and beat Johnson with a shot that landed inside the left post.

Suárez made it 2-0 with his second goal in the 39th minute. Johnson deflected Messi’s point-blank shot to an open Berterame, who fed Suárez with another header that he retrieved inside the 6-yard box. Suárez then tapped in a shot for his brace.

4f:T6ae,

MIAMI (AP) — Lionel Messi scored two goals to give him a league-leading 23 this season, and Inter Miami beat D.C. United 4-0 on Saturday night.

Luis Suárez also scored twice and Germán Berterame had two assists for Inter Miami, which snapped a five-match winless skid. Miami had four draws and one loss before Saturday's outburst.

Four days after playing his farewell match that ended a 21-year tenure with the Argentine national team, Messi played the entire 90 minutes.

The win was Miami's first since a 7-1 rout of CF Montreal on Aug. 29. It was also the first league win for new coach Cristian "Kily" González, who took over Sept. 16.

D.C. United is winless in its last five matches.

Inter Miami's first scoring threat resulted in Suárez's goal three minutes into the match. Suárez received Berterame's header and beat Johnson with a shot that landed inside the left post.

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Lionel Messi said that he already misses playing for Argentina in a heartfelt message posted on Instagram a day after his final game with the national team.

"Yesterday was my last game and I already miss wearing blue and white," he wrote Wednesday, as translated by ESPN. "I know I'm making the right decision. It was an incredible road filled with joys and also some sorrow, but I'm clear that it was worth every step I took."

On Tuesday, Messi scored his 126th international goal and recorded two assists in a friendly win - dubbed "the last tango" - against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 39-year-old, who represents Inter Miami at the club level, praised his family and friends for their support. He also highlighted the impact of Argentina great Diego Maradona.

"I don't want to forget Diego, who put our country where it deserved to be and who ... helped us being over here with us and also from heaven, in every step we took," Messi added.

During an international career that spanned 21 years, Messi led Argentina to two Copa America titles and was pivotal in helping the country win its third World Cup in 2022.

He ended his message by saying: "I am grateful. I love you so much. I will miss you, and I will always thank you for being by our side and by my side."

51:Tfb0,

Lionel Messi said that he already misses playing for Argentina in a heartfelt message posted on Instagram a day after his final game with the national team.

On Tuesday, Messi scored his 126th international goal and recorded two assists in a friendly win - dubbed "the last tango" - against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The 39-year-old, who represents Inter Miami at the club level, praised his family and friends for their support. He also highlighted the impact of Argentina great Diego Maradona.

"I don't want to forget Diego, who put our country where it deserved to be and who ... helped us being over here with us and also from heaven, in every step we took," Messi added.

During an international career that spanned 21 years, Messi led Argentina to two Copa America titles and was pivotal in helping the country win its third World Cup in 2022.

He ended his message by saying: "I am grateful. I love you so much. I will miss you, and I will always thank you for being by our side and by my side."

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It's really over.

Lionel Messi played his 208th and final match for Argentina on Tuesday - a 3-0 friendly win over Benin in Buenos Aires that was dubbed the "Last Tango" - to bring down the curtain on an iconic international career. Messi, 39, marked the occasion with a goal and two assists.

Relive all the highlights and best moments below.

Jump to: Farewell goal | Trademark assists

Messi's tearful goodbye

After the match, an emotional Messi addressed an adoring crowd of roughly 85,000 at the Estadio Monumental, touching on his retirement decision, his 21-year career with the national team, and more.

Message to the fans ...

"I can only thank you all. It has been a huge pride to defend this shirt for over 20 years. We never stopped fighting, never stopped giving everything. Playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing," Messi said, as translated by Carl Innes of The Athletic.

Message to his teammates ...

"I want to thank all of my teammates. You made all of my dreams come true. The World Cup, the Copa America, the Finalissima. I was surrounded by warriors. I'm going to miss this."

Don't want to leave ...

"I don't want to leave this place. I don't want to leave the field. I love all of you, and I will miss all of you. I am proud to be Argentinian. I'm proud to have completed the dream."

Following his tearful speech, Messi, flanked by his teammates, walked off the pitch with his family. The perfect send-off.

Lighting up the sky

Messi put on a show on the pitch in his final game, and Argentina put on a show in the sky after the final whistle.

The sky lit up for Lionel Messi 🇦🇷🥺 A spectacular drone show followed his final Argentina appearance, recreating Messi holding the World Cup and his iconic shirt ❤️ https://t.co/8vP64dNdkR
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 7, 2026

MESSI SCORES FAREWELL GOAL! 🚨

Of course.

Messi marked his 208th and final Argentina appearance with his 126th senior international goal - both are Albiceleste records - when he fired the ball home from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.

#AD10S 🐐 ⚽️ #Argentina 🇦🇷 3 🆚 Benín 🇧🇯 0 🗣️ Otro más. En su noche. Quisiera que esto dure para siempre 🎵 https://t.co/gN10KPICGY
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) October 7, 2026

Messi grabs 2 assists

Messi's supernatural playmaking ability has always been just as prominent as his scoring touch throughout his storied career, so perhaps it was appropriate that his first goal contributions in Tuesday's match were assists.

Messi delivered a perfect corner kick that fellow Argentine veteran Nicolas Otamendi - also playing his final international game - smashed into the net to open the scoring in the 48th minute; the 38-year-old central defender is one of Messi's longest-serving international teammates. Poetic, isn't it?

Messi perfectly places his corner kick to get an assist during his last game with Argentina (via @FutSheriff) https://t.co/P56jS91vgK
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2026

Even more fittingly, Messi's second helper of the evening came when he played a short pass to Nico Paz, the 22-year-old rising star who many think will inherit Argentina's No. 10 shirt from Messi for the foreseeable future.

No goals in 1st half

Messi had multiple looks at goal in the first 45 minutes - he took four shots total, hitting the target twice - but couldn't find the net.

Argentina, as expected, dominated proceedings against the 89th-ranked team in the FIFA rankings, but the 2026 World Cup finalist hasn't been able to break the deadlock as of yet.

Monumental ovation

The match was halted in the 10th minute - Messi's shirt number - to allow the entire stadium (and the players on the pitch) to pay tribute to the left-footed magician who is widely regarded as soccer's GOAT.

#AD10S 🐐 ⚽️ #Argentina 🇦🇷 🆚 Benín 🇧🇯 📽️ Los aplausos en el minuto sagrado 👏 📍 Estadio Monumental https://t.co/4O4JP29Fnc
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) October 6, 2026

Tell the grandkids about it

Sessi D'Almeida will never forget this moment. The 30-year-old midfielder, serving as Benin's captain Tuesday in place of injured skipper Steve Mounie, presented Messi with a gift ahead of the match.

Benin captain Sessi D'Almeida presented Messi with a gift before the coin toss 💙 https://t.co/H6KvpHr4s9
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 6, 2026

D'Almeida will surely be talking about that photo for years to come.

'Gracias 10'

Ahead of the opening kickoff, Messi was welcomed onto the pitch with an enormous commemorative jersey displaying a simple message of thanks for his 21 years of service to the Albiceleste.

Manager Lionel Scaloni, who's been at the helm of the squad throughout Messi's most successful years with the national team, was in tears as the Argentine anthem played. Messi, too, appeared to be getting emotional.

The Estadio Monumental homage to Leo Messi 💙🇦🇷 #Messi https://t.co/Ql3pfmScOh
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) October 6, 2026

😭😭😭 https://t.co/l7SBhUDCHl
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 6, 2026

The match kicked off 30 minutes behind its 7 p.m. ET scheduled start, but considering the occasion, everyone will give organizers a pass on this one.

Epic atmosphere

The atmosphere inside the Estadio Monumental was electric well before kickoff, with Messi's family in attendance to witness the event alongside roughly 85,000 spectators:

The atmosphere in Buenos Aires is already electric ahead of Messi’s final match with Argentina 🇦🇷 (via @FootballBenin) https://t.co/vHcoB4OxAE
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 6, 2026

Lionel Messi, on stage for the very last time representing his country. 🇦🇷 https://t.co/6F76L4KywP
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 6, 2026

The most important people in Messi’s life are there for his farewell with the Argentina National Team 🥹👏 #beINSPORTS #Messi #LionelMessi #Argentina https://t.co/RKpfxpnDbl
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 6, 2026

How we got here

Messi, 39, announced he was retiring from the Albiceleste in August, weeks after Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

In an open letter that Messi said he wrote two days after that extra-time defeat in the United States, he acknowledged it was the right time to step away, but admitted the decision hurt "deep inside."

Messi, who's still playing at the club level with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, reunited with the national team last week for his farewell match. The Argentine Football Federation (AFA) said the contest versus Benin will ensure "the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves."

The match is Messi's record-extending 208th for Argentina.

He's the nation's all-time leading scorer and has led his country to three World Cup finals, lifting the trophy in Qatar in 2022. He's also claimed two Copa America titles (2021 and 2024) and an Olympic gold medal (2008) while wearing Argentina's famous blue and white shirt.

Leo: "thank you for loving me so much" us: 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 https://t.co/fx2Zffq1er
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 6, 2026

"Messi leaves behind something unequaled," Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said ahead of Tuesday's celebratory match. "We have to keep playing, but the feeling of having him on the pitch is unique. I've never seen anyone else convey what he does on a football field, and that is what we're going to miss."

53:T315c,

It's really over.

Relive all the highlights and best moments below.

Jump to: Farewell goal | Trademark assists

Messi's tearful goodbye

After the match, an emotional Messi addressed an adoring crowd of roughly 85,000 at the Estadio Monumental, touching on his retirement decision, his 21-year career with the national team, and more.

Message to the fans ...

Message to his teammates ...

"I want to thank all of my teammates. You made all of my dreams come true. The World Cup, the Copa America, the Finalissima. I was surrounded by warriors. I'm going to miss this."

Don't want to leave ...

"I don't want to leave this place. I don't want to leave the field. I love all of you, and I will miss all of you. I am proud to be Argentinian. I'm proud to have completed the dream."

Following his tearful speech, Messi, flanked by his teammates, walked off the pitch with his family. The perfect send-off.

Lighting up the sky

Messi put on a show on the pitch in his final game, and Argentina put on a show in the sky after the final whistle.

The sky lit up for Lionel Messi 🇦🇷🥺 A spectacular drone show followed his final Argentina appearance, recreating Messi holding the World Cup and his iconic shirt ❤️ https://t.co/8vP64dNdkR
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 7, 2026

MESSI SCORES FAREWELL GOAL! 🚨

Of course.

Messi marked his 208th and final Argentina appearance with his 126th senior international goal - both are Albiceleste records - when he fired the ball home from the penalty spot in the 71st minute.

#AD10S 🐐 ⚽️ #Argentina 🇦🇷 3 🆚 Benín 🇧🇯 0 🗣️ Otro más. En su noche. Quisiera que esto dure para siempre 🎵 https://t.co/gN10KPICGY
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) October 7, 2026

Messi grabs 2 assists

Messi perfectly places his corner kick to get an assist during his last game with Argentina (via @FutSheriff) https://t.co/P56jS91vgK
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 7, 2026

No goals in 1st half

Messi had multiple looks at goal in the first 45 minutes - he took four shots total, hitting the target twice - but couldn't find the net.

Argentina, as expected, dominated proceedings against the 89th-ranked team in the FIFA rankings, but the 2026 World Cup finalist hasn't been able to break the deadlock as of yet.

Monumental ovation

#AD10S 🐐 ⚽️ #Argentina 🇦🇷 🆚 Benín 🇧🇯 📽️ Los aplausos en el minuto sagrado 👏 📍 Estadio Monumental https://t.co/4O4JP29Fnc
— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) October 6, 2026

Tell the grandkids about it

Sessi D'Almeida will never forget this moment. The 30-year-old midfielder, serving as Benin's captain Tuesday in place of injured skipper Steve Mounie, presented Messi with a gift ahead of the match.

Benin captain Sessi D'Almeida presented Messi with a gift before the coin toss 💙 https://t.co/H6KvpHr4s9
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) October 6, 2026

D'Almeida will surely be talking about that photo for years to come.

'Gracias 10'

Ahead of the opening kickoff, Messi was welcomed onto the pitch with an enormous commemorative jersey displaying a simple message of thanks for his 21 years of service to the Albiceleste.

The Estadio Monumental homage to Leo Messi 💙🇦🇷 #Messi https://t.co/Ql3pfmScOh
— DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) October 6, 2026

😭😭😭 https://t.co/l7SBhUDCHl
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) October 6, 2026

The match kicked off 30 minutes behind its 7 p.m. ET scheduled start, but considering the occasion, everyone will give organizers a pass on this one.

Epic atmosphere

The atmosphere inside the Estadio Monumental was electric well before kickoff, with Messi's family in attendance to witness the event alongside roughly 85,000 spectators:

The atmosphere in Buenos Aires is already electric ahead of Messi’s final match with Argentina 🇦🇷 (via @FootballBenin) https://t.co/vHcoB4OxAE
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) October 6, 2026

Lionel Messi, on stage for the very last time representing his country. 🇦🇷 https://t.co/6F76L4KywP
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) October 6, 2026

The most important people in Messi’s life are there for his farewell with the Argentina National Team 🥹👏 #beINSPORTS #Messi #LionelMessi #Argentina https://t.co/RKpfxpnDbl
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) October 6, 2026

How we got here

Messi, 39, announced he was retiring from the Albiceleste in August, weeks after Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

The match is Messi's record-extending 208th for Argentina.

Leo: "thank you for loving me so much" us: 🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹🥹 https://t.co/fx2Zffq1er
— adidas Football (@adidasfootball) October 6, 2026

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina is girding itself for the once-unimaginable prospect of a national team without soccer great Lionel Messi.

On Tuesday, the 39-year-old Messi is set to bid farewell to international soccer after 21 years, 125 goals, two Copa América titles and a World Cup championship. What would otherwise be an unremarkable friendly match against the West African nation of Benin has become the moment that this soccer-crazed country has long dreaded.

"It feels like an era is ending, knowing he won’t play for the national team anymore," said Valentino Ruso, 17, who was hanging out with friends in a Buenos Aires park on Tuesday. "I’m sad. I think everyone is upset today. He will be missed."

Argentines have had an intense, often unforgiving relationship with the shy boy who left his hometown of Rosario at 13 for the youth academy of Spanish club Barcelona. As he grew into a global icon of near-mythical stature, his compatriots adored and abused him, doubted his commitment and accused him of indifference to his own country.

But as he prepares to say goodbye to the national team, his devotion to Argentina is no longer in question. Nor is Argentina’s devotion to its most famous export whose triumphs have served as reminders of national greatness through years of political and economic instability.

"Argentines often say, 'Thank God I was born at a time when I could experience the miracle of watching Messi play,'" said Andrés Rabinovich, a University of Chicago scholar who has researched soccer’s role in Argentine culture. "It’s hard living in Argentina. Soccer is often one of the few things that offer you some respite, some joy."

For years, Argentines had debated when and how Messi should leave the international stage — though he’ll continue to play for MLS team Inter Miami. His Aug. 31 announcement that he’d be retiring from the national team, weeks after Argentina’s loss to Spain in the World Cup final, prompted an outpouring of gratitude and grief.

"I don’t know if there has ever been a love story between a player and a country as great as the one you built," his teammate Rodrigo De Paul wrote on Instagram.

The Argentine soccer federation has turned Tuesday’s game — Messi’s 208th — into a national homage dubbed "the last tango." Some 85,000 tickets to Buenos Aires’ largest stadium sold out in 90 minutes, and members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families were invited back to join the tribute.

Winning over his own

During the 2000s and 2010s, Messi amassed trophies with his club and won diehard fans from Barcelona to Bangladesh. Yet a major championship for his own country eluded him.

Where the world saw a supernatural talent, some at home saw an outsider who had never played professionally in Argentina and could not deliver when it mattered most to the nation. Argentine crowds chanted “Diego, Diego,” invoking Diego Maradona, the larger-than-life hero of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup victory — and reminding Messi of the standard he had yet to meet. Messi’s quiet reserve, so at odds with Maradona’s defiant swagger, fueled doubts about his patriotism.

After Argentina lost a third consecutive final in 2016, Messi briefly quit the national team.

"There’s some resentment by the people that stay in Argentina for those who leave, this sense of, 'They think they’re better than us,'" said Rabinovich, adding that he identifies with Messi as a fellow teenage migrant, having moved to Canada during Argentina’s 2001 economic crisis, around the time Messi left for Europe. "The old-school Argentines would say, 'Diego is the Argentine. Messi is soft, a little Spanish boy.'"

The turning point came in 2021, when Argentina beat Brazil to win the Copa América, South America’s championship, for the first time in 28 years. Messi collapsed to the turf as his teammates, delirious, ran to hug him. The player long accused of feeling too little could not stop sobbing.

"Winning clearly disarmed his critics. That’s how soccer works in Argentina," said Diego Murzi, a sports sociologist at Conicet, Argentina’s national scientific research council. "Criticism of things off the field goes hand in hand with defeats on it."

The World Cup victory the following year in Qatar sealed his place as a national hero. Messi had delivered the one prize that had eluded him, and millions of Argentines poured into the streets in collective ecstasy, his name in their chants and his No. 10 on their backs.

“I’ll never forget it. I’d never experienced anything like that, being out there with everyone, celebrating together,” said Antonia Correa, 70, a kiosk owner recalling that day as she waited for a bus in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. “We saw that he wasn’t just an extraordinary player, but an excellent human being.”

In recent weeks, newspapers have hummed with nostalgic tributes and murals celebrating Messi have sprung up across the country. La Nación, a leading Argentine daily newspaper, released “Immortal,” a documentary chronicling his final World Cup run, and published a 196-page special edition devoted to his career. A giant replica of his No. 10 Argentina jersey, emblazoned with the word “Gracias,” was unfurled Monday across a main plaza in his home city of Rosario. And in Patagonia, a 26-meter (85-foot), 70-ton statue of Messi kneeling with the World Cup trophy has towered over passing motorists since June.

A jersey without an heir

Across Argentina, fans who grew up watching Messi as their parents watched Maradona now carry him on their skin, in tattoos of him kissing the World Cup trophy. It was easy to believe the world’s greatest player would always be one of their own. Now even Messi’s No. 10 shirt has no designated heir, with coach Lionel Scaloni saying the decision would wait until after his final match.

“I don’t think we’ll have somebody like him again, somebody with that sort of enduring power,” said Pablo Brescia, a University of South Florida professor who writes about Argentine culture and soccer. “Like Maradona, he’ll be unique — a figure that can’t be repeated.”

Messi will continue playing for Inter Miami, where his contract runs through the 2028 season. But the charged ritual of watching him carry Argentina’s hopes and anxieties into every match is ending.

“Watching Messi play, you felt anything could happen,” Murzi said. “I’ve seen him do things that I don’t think I’ll ever see another player do.”

55:T2620,

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina is girding itself for the once-unimaginable prospect of a national team without soccer great Lionel Messi.

"I don’t know if there has ever been a love story between a player and a country as great as the one you built," his teammate Rodrigo De Paul wrote on Instagram.

Winning over his own

During the 2000s and 2010s, Messi amassed trophies with his club and won diehard fans from Barcelona to Bangladesh. Yet a major championship for his own country eluded him.

After Argentina lost a third consecutive final in 2016, Messi briefly quit the national team.

A jersey without an heir

Messi will continue playing for Inter Miami, where his contract runs through the 2028 season. But the charged ritual of watching him carry Argentina’s hopes and anxieties into every match is ending.

“Watching Messi play, you felt anything could happen,” Murzi said. “I’ve seen him do things that I don’t think I’ll ever see another player do.”

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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina fans are confident there is a bright future beyond Lionel Messi as the team’s most influential player of the last two decades prepares to bid farewell.

The 39-year-old superstar will play his final match for Argentina on Tuesday — a friendly against Benin at Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires — marking a pivotal moment in the country’s football.

Messi leaves behind an extraordinary legacy, including the 2022 World Cup title, two more World Cup finals (2014, 2026), two Copa América trophies (2021, 2024), an Olympic gold medal (2008), and 125 goals as the national team’s all-time leading scorer.

His international retirement raises an inevitable question: Can Argentina remain among the global elite, or is a long trophy drought — reminiscent of the 35-year dry spell following Diego Maradona’s departure — on the horizon?

“Messi leaves behind something unequaled,” national coach Lionel Scaloni says. “We have to keep playing, but the feeling of having him on the pitch is unique. I’ve never seen anyone else convey what he does on a football field, and that is what we’re going to miss.”

However, Scaloni — who is in advanced negotiations to renew his contract for another four years — looks beyond Messi with optimism: “The Argentine national team will endure. We will remain at a high level, I have no doubt about that.”

The future is here

In the first two post-World Cup matches without Messi, Argentina dazzled in the past week with resounding victories against Bolivia 4-0 and Burkina Faso 7-0. Despite the opponents’ stature, the matches offered compelling glimpses of what lies ahead.

Alongside established stars like Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernández, and Lautaro Martínez, an exciting wave of new talent emerged — creative midfielders Nicolás Paz and Franco Mastantuono, and wingers Gianluca Prestianni and Leonel Flores.

Flores is a Boca Juniors youth player who made his professional debut just two months ago and has already earned senior national team experience.

“There’s a changing of the guard; maybe we have to play differently now, not thinking in terms of ‘Messi and 10 others,’ but rather as a unified team,” supporter Cristian Versalles, 55, told the AP after watching the victory over Burkina Faso on Saturday.

His son, Ramiro, 23, added, “Given the number of players coming through, there’s definitely a new generation ready to step up. Nico Paz is the heir apparent.” Paz, playing out of Italian club Como, was one of the scorers.

Also at the friendly and wearing the No. 19 jersey — the same one Messi wore during his senior national team debut in 2005 — 10-year-old fan Uzzi Rivero admitted, “It makes me really sad that he doesn’t play for Argentina anymore.” However, the youngster scowled at the suggestion that Argentina might face a trophy-less era following Messi’s retirement.

Another fan, Valentina Gago, 20, said: “I’m excited about Argentina without Messi; my favorite player is Lautaro Martínez. It’s not the same as Messi but I love him just the same.”

With his goal against Burkina Faso, Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez ranks as Argentina’s third-highest all-time goal-scorer with 42.

“As long as the players are eager to give their all for the shirt, for me, Argentina will remain a contender,” Gago said.

The world will find out at the 2028 Copa América.

___

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

57:Te4c,

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina fans are confident there is a bright future beyond Lionel Messi as the team’s most influential player of the last two decades prepares to bid farewell.

The future is here

Flores is a Boca Juniors youth player who made his professional debut just two months ago and has already earned senior national team experience.

Another fan, Valentina Gago, 20, said: “I’m excited about Argentina without Messi; my favorite player is Lautaro Martínez. It’s not the same as Messi but I love him just the same.”

With his goal against Burkina Faso, Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez ranks as Argentina’s third-highest all-time goal-scorer with 42.

“As long as the players are eager to give their all for the shirt, for me, Argentina will remain a contender,” Gago said.

The world will find out at the 2028 Copa América.

___

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

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BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina on Friday ahead of his farewell game with the national team.

Messi is set to play in a friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a final appearance for the team he led to a World Cup title in 2022.

The Argentine Football Association said the goal of the match is to ensure “the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves.”

Messi, who announced his international retirement on Aug. 31, flew in from Miami on a private jet with his family, landing in his hometown of Rosario, 300 kilometers (about 190 miles) north of Buenos Aires.

Reunion for World Cup winners

Several fellow 2022 World Cup champions will join the celebrations. However, Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina were unable to attend after Roma declined to release them.

Messi’s decision brings the curtain down on a historic 21-year international career in the Albiceleste jersey, leaving behind a legacy that includes 125 goals and reaching two more World Cup finals - losing to Spain this year and Germany in 2014.

Messi is not taking part in any of Argentina’s other games in this international window. The team beat Bolivia 4-0 on Wednesday and will also play Burkina Faso on Saturday.

___

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

59:T586,

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina on Friday ahead of his farewell game with the national team.

Messi is set to play in a friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a final appearance for the team he led to a World Cup title in 2022.

The Argentine Football Association said the goal of the match is to ensure “the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves.”

Reunion for World Cup winners

Several fellow 2022 World Cup champions will join the celebrations. However, Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina were unable to attend after Roma declined to release them.

Messi is not taking part in any of Argentina’s other games in this international window. The team beat Bolivia 4-0 on Wednesday and will also play Burkina Faso on Saturday.

___

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

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