Twenty-one years after Lionel Messi helped Argentina beat Nigeria in the Under-20 World Cup final, another African side will be on the pitch for the final match of his international career.

Benin face Argentina at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a farewell match for the 39-year-old.

For Benin assistant coach Tunde Adelakun, there is a neat symmetry to the occasion.

“Africa has been at the heart of Messi’s remarkable career,” he told BBC Sport Africa.

“I was physically there when they beat Nigeria in the final, where he was the most valuable player in that tournament.

“It’s an absolute pleasure that, when he is drawing the curtain on his international career, Benin will be part of that.”

Messi announced his international retirement on 31 August after Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Argentina’s most-capped player and record goalscorer has scored 125 times in 207 senior internationals.

The Argentine Football Association has organised Tuesday’s match as a farewell for its captain, with members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad also invited to the celebrations.

For Benin, ranked 93rd in the world and yet to qualify for a World Cup, the invitation came as a surprise.

“Everybody was absolutely ecstatic,” Adelakun says.

“It came at a time when we were right in the middle of preparation for two very important qualifying games for the Africa Cup of Nations.”

Benin drew 1-1 away to Burkina Faso before beating Mauritania 2-1 in their opening two qualifiers.

Head coach Gernot Rohr says his side will enjoy “a bit of a party with Messi”, but has stressed that they are not travelling to Buenos Aires simply to make up the numbers.