A Farewell Match on Home Soil — How Argentina Plans to Honor Messi

Argentine international Leandro Paredes, a teammate of Lionel Messi at Argentina, revealed that the Albiceleste star had "made his decision" to treat the 2026 World Cup final against Spain as his last match with the national team, remarks that stirred a huge wave of emotion among Argentine fans. Despite this statement, reports suggest Messi is not expected to announce his international retirement immediately. The Argentine Football Association is reportedly leaning toward an alternative plan, under which the star would continue representing the national team over the coming months, before closing out his international career with an official farewell match held on home soil, to be announced in advance so fans across the country can celebrate his career. The plan reflects the Argentine federation's desire to give Messi a send-off befitting nearly two decades of service to the national shirt, while several details remain unresolved, including coordinating around the player's commitments with his club Inter Miami, which run through 2028, as well as the uncertainty surrounding the future of head coach Lionel Scaloni himself.