NewsThe GameTue 6 Oct 2026

'We're not going to mark Messi, we're just going to enjoy the match': Benin star admits team will roll out the red carpet for Argentina legend ahead of emotional swansong in Buenos Aires

Argentina are hosting Benin at midnight UK time in Buenos Aires in what is a slightly bizarre swansong for the 2022 World Cup winner.

— Daily Mail Football, publisher's words · Read the original ↗

33 outlets9 languages15 countriesUpdated Wed 7 Oct, 22:05 UTC

Who broke it

The Guardian — Football

Tue 6 Oct 2026, 11:07 UTC

EN · GB

Followed by

outlets in 9 languages over 1 d.

Our read

Corroborated (7)

7 of 10 outlets each added at least one detail no earlier report had; the other 3 repeat it. That is independence, not agreement: two of them can still contradict each other.

Judged on the 10 outlets in our latest edition; the timeline keeps all 33 we have seen.

Coverage timeline

33 outlets · first-seen order

+0 minTue 6 Oct 11:07
The Guardian — FootballEN · GBBroke it
Lionel Messi has completed football and can bid Argentina farewell with pride
- +20 h 12 minLionel Messi describes ending Argentina career as his ‘saddest day’ in football
+53 minTue 6 Oct 12:00
Daily Mail FootballEN · GBOwn reporting
'We're not going to mark Messi, we're just going to enjoy the match': Benin star admits team will roll out the red carpet for Argentina legend ahead of emotional swansong in Buenos Aires
- +14 h 42 minLionel Messi's final night of magic! Argentina icon scores on emotional Buenos Aires farewell... as his family watch on
+1 h 27 minTue 6 Oct 12:34
Foot MercatoFR · FRRepeats
Argentine : un défenseur du Bénin refuse de défendre contre Messi pour son dernier match
+4 h 53 minTue 6 Oct 16:00
Gazeta SporturilorRO · ROOwn reporting
Messi se retrage în Argentina - Benin, liveTEXT de la ora 02:00. Cine transmite la TV
+5 h 29 minTue 6 Oct 16:36
RMC Sport — FootballFR · FROwn reporting
Argentine-Bénin: cet étonnant prix honorifique que le "Docteur" Messi va recevoir pour son dernier match en sélection
- +8 h 39 minArgentine : L'interminable queue à Buenos Aires pour assister à la dernière de Messi
- +19 h 31 minDéguisements, chants et feux d'artifices... au coeur de la folie de Buenos Aires pour la dernière de Messi en sélection !
+6 h 53 minTue 6 Oct 18:00
Infobae DeportesES · AROwn reporting
Lionel Messi recibió el doctorado Honoris Causa de la Universidad de Buenos Aires: “Es un orgullo”
+7 h 34 minTue 6 Oct 18:41
Mundo Deportivo — FútbolES · ESOwn reporting
Messi recibe el doctorado Honoris Causa antes de su gran noche
- +21 h 29 minSólo dos jugadores del Atlético despidieron a Messi en el campo
+7 h 54 minTue 6 Oct 19:02
Het Laatste Nieuws — VoetbalNL · BERepeats
Messi-gekte barst los in Argentinië: duizenden fans op straat, levensgroot shirt vliegt door de lucht en doelman Martínez scheert opvallend detail in haar
- +12 h 22 minMessi neemt afscheid van Argentijnse nationale ploeg met rake penalty en twee assists
- +17 h 6 minLionel Messi in tranen na laatste wedstrijd in Argentijns shirt: “Niet normaal wat we samen hebben meegemaakt”
+8 h 14 minTue 6 Oct 19:21
Calciomercato.comIT · ITOwn reporting
L'ultima di Messi: la formazione ufficiale dell'Argentina
+8 h 53 minTue 6 Oct 20:00
DeporES · PEOwn reporting
Lionel Messi disputó su último partido con la Albiceleste
+9 h 47 minTue 6 Oct 20:54
WeszloPL · PLOwn reporting
Neymar podziękował Leo Messiemu. „Sprawiłeś, że jeszcze mocniej pokochałem piłkę”
+10 h 28 minTue 6 Oct 21:35
LiberoES · PEOwn reporting
Lionel Messi recibió Doctorado Honoris Causa antes de su último partido con Argentina
+10 h 44 minTue 6 Oct 21:52
AD SportNL · NLOwn reporting
Lionel Messi huilend in de spelersbus richting stadion, vrouw en zoons op de tribune
+10 h 53 minTue 6 Oct 22:00
UOL EsportePT · BROwn reporting
Transmissão ao vivo de Argentina x Benin pelos amistosos: veja onde assistir
- +14 h 53 minMessi chora, comanda Argentina e se despede com vitória, gol e assistências
- +16 h 53 minMessi homenageia o pai e diz que despedida é 'dia mais triste da carreira'
+11 h 57 minTue 6 Oct 23:05
Khel NowEN · INRepeats
Why are Argentina wearing special kit vs Benin in international friendly?
+13 h 52 minWed 7 Oct 00:59
ABC — DeportesES · ESRepeats
Messi se despide de la selección en Buenos Aires entre fuegos artificiales y lágrimas con el himno
+14 h 25 minWed 7 Oct 01:32
L'Équipe — FootballFR · FROwn reporting
Deux passes décisives et un but : Lionel Messi s'est fait plaisir pour sa dernière sélection avec l'Argentine
- +21 h 48 minÀ Cotonou aussi, on a acclamé la dernière de Lionel Messi : « On se souviendra toujours que c'est contre le Bénin qu'il a pris sa retraite internationale »
+14 h 29 minWed 7 Oct 01:36
Corriere dello SportIT · ITOwn reporting
Leo Messi, è stato bellissimo: un gol, due assist, un palo e tanti brividi. Così il re ha detto addio all'Argentina
+14 h 30 minWed 7 Oct 01:37
FTBLEN · AUOwn reporting
Lionel Messi’s final Argentina act ends in tears, a goal and victory. The numbers behind an extraordinary 21 years
+15 h 4 minWed 7 Oct 02:11
ASES · ESOwn reporting
El Barça se rinde a Messi
+16 h 19 minWed 7 Oct 03:26
La Repubblica SportIT · ITOwn reporting
Messi, addio all’Argentina. Piange, segna e saluta: "Con voi ho realizzato i miei sogni”
+17 h 56 minWed 7 Oct 05:03
Nu.nl VoetbalNL · NLRepeats
Messi neemt met goal en twee assists emotioneel afscheid van Argentinië
- +19 h 30 minIn beeld | Tranen en laatste goal voor Messi bij afscheid van Argentinië
+18 h 11 minWed 7 Oct 05:18
El Mundo DeportesES · ESOwn reporting
Messi se despide de la selección argentina en una noche de emociones: "No venir más va a ser un dolor muy grande"
+18 h 43 minWed 7 Oct 05:50
Mirror FootballEN · GBRepeats
Lionel Messi retirement: Emotional statement on pitch as star shines in final Argentina game
+18 h 44 minWed 7 Oct 05:52
Complete SportsEN · NGOwn reporting
Messi Bids Farewell To International Football With Goal, Two Assists In Argentina’s 3-0 Win Over Benin
+18 h 52 minWed 7 Oct 06:00
VoetbalkrantNL · BERepeats
🎥 Laatste dans van Lionel Messi eindigt zoals zijn carrière begon: met magie, records en tranen
+19 h 12 minWed 7 Oct 06:19
Estadio DeportivoES · ESOwn reporting
Las lágrimas de Argentina en el adiós de Messi: una noche que ya es historia del fútbol
+19 h 25 minWed 7 Oct 06:33
Krone SportDE · ATOwn reporting
Buhrufe und Pfiffe - „Schämt euch!“ Aufreger bei Lionel Messis Abschied
- +19 h 57 minAuch Familie gerührt - Tränen bei Messi: „Das wird mir sehr wehtun!“
+20 h 30 minWed 7 Oct 07:37
TuttoMercatoWebIT · ITRepeats
L'ultima di Messi con l'Argentina: dalle lacrime in pullman, ai fuochi al 10' e i droni (con polemiche)
+21 h 4 minWed 7 Oct 08:11
Football ItaliaEN · ITOwn reporting
Video: Nico Paz scores another screamer in Messi’s final match for Argentina
+21 h 37 minWed 7 Oct 08:45
COPE DeportesES · ESOwn reporting
El emotivo 'last dance' de Messi con Argentina con el país rendido a sus pies
+21 h 42 minWed 7 Oct 08:50
Maquina do EsportePT · BROwn reporting
Lionel Messi: Adeus do craque à seleção argentina mobiliza marcas globais
+1 dWed 7 Oct 11:32
Le Monde — SportFR · FROwn reporting
« Je doute qu’il y ait un autre Messi prochainement » : en Argentine, les fans de football ont fait des adieux émouvants à la « Pulga » pour sa dernière sélection

First seen is our own clock across 245+ feeds; it is not a guarantee of who published first. Each time is the earlier of the publisher's own timestamp and our first sighting. Headlines and summaries are the publishers' own words, linked to the original. How we work out who broke it.