Buenos Aires experienced a historic night this Tuesday at the Monumental Stadium. As reported by Reuters, Lionel Messi bid farewell to the Argentine national team with a 3-0 victory over Benin, contributing two assists and a penalty kick goal in front of 87,000 fans.
But beyond the result, as reported by Olé, the African delegation took advantage of their stay to tour the city and experience the build-up to the match as both a tourist and a soccer experience.
As detailed by El Tribuno de Jujuy, the Benin players strolled through Buenos Aires’ Microcentro in the hours leading up to the match. As reported by Olé, dressed in the delegation’s uniforms, they were approached by a C5N crew as they were leaving a shopping trip, and defender Mohamed Tijani drew attention by buying a mate set in Argentina’s colors, which he said was for his son.
As Cadena SER reported, Tijani was the most effusive when talking about Messi. He said there was no special plan to mark him and that the idea was to enjoy the match, describing Messi as the best in the world and the god of soccer. As reported by Olé, the team doctor reinforced that devotion with the same short phrase that went viral among the squad.
The visit also included a distinctly soccer-themed moment, as reported by Planeta Boca Juniors. Part of the squad traveled to La Bombonera, where they took photos in the second tier and on the sidelines. As that same outlet detailed, Rudolfo Aloko, considered one of the team’s standout players, posed next to the Xeneize crest, while Aiyegun Tosin posed next to the statue of Diego Armando Maradona at Brandsen 805. As Planeta Boca Juniors added, Tijani confessed his fondness for Boca and said he often follows Argentine soccer.
Not everyone arrived in a festive mood. As reported by FM Chalet, goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou expressed deep admiration for Messi, whom he described as one of soccer’s kings and a legend he grew up watching, but warned that he wouldn’t give him any breaks. As quoted by Cadena SER, he explained that his role is to stop shots and that even if faced with a last-minute penalty kick, he would try to save it, because no one asked them to make his farewell any easier.
As reported by the newspaper AS, captain Steve Mounié—Benin’s all-time leading scorer, who was unable to play due to injury but was present at the Monumental—said they viewed the match as a celebration and a showcase for the world to get to know their players, with the ambition to compete and demonstrate good soccer.
On the field, as reported by Reuters, the tribute was comprehensive. Messi, 39, was greeted with a giant jersey bearing the words “Gracias 10” and entered the field accompanied by his sons Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. He assisted Nicolás Otamendi and Nicolás Paz in the 47th and 58th minutes and sealed the 3-0 victory with a penalty kick in the 70th minute, bringing his total to 208 matches and 126 goals with the Albiceleste since 2005, as that same news outlet noted.
Benín leaves Buenos Aires without scoring any goals, but, as the Argentine media reported, with photos taken at two local soccer shrines, a mate under his arm, and the distinction of having been present at the No. 10’s farewell.
