Brazilian star Neymar has hailed Lionel Messi ahead of the Argentine captain’s final appearance for the national team against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
Messi, 39, will wear Argentina’s sky-blue-and-white jersey for the final time after more than two decades representing his country.
The farewell match comes after Messi announced his retirement from international football following Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign. The Argentine Football Association subsequently arranged the friendly against Benin as a special farewell for its captain.
Around 85,000 supporters are expected at the Monumental for what promises to be an emotional final appearance for one of Argentina’s greatest footballers.
Ahead of the match, Neymar posted a heartfelt message to his former Barcelona teammate.
“Anyone who loves football has enjoyed you throughout all these years,” Neymar wrote.
He wished Messi a memorable final game and said he hoped the Argentine would enjoy every moment of the occasion and the tributes from supporters.
Neymar also thanked Messi for his contribution to football, saying the gratitude extended beyond Argentina.
“It’s not only Argentina that thanks you; the whole world thanks you for everything you’ve done for football,” the Brazilian said.
The former Barcelona star then reflected on his own relationship with Messi.
“Thank you for making me love football even more. It was an honour to have played against you, and even more so to have made history alongside you. Thank you, Leo Messi.”
Neymar and Messi spent some of their most successful club years together at Barcelona, where they formed part of the celebrated attacking trio with Luis Suárez.
The Brazilian joined Barcelona in 2013 and remained at the club until his world-record transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017. Messi later joined Neymar at PSG in 2021, giving the pair another spell as teammates.
Away from club football, however, they were rivals whenever Brazil and Argentina met.
Their international rivalry included the 2021 Copa América final, which Argentina won 1–0 at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium.
Messi leaves the Argentina national team as its record appearance holder and all-time leading scorer. He has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances and helped the country win the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 before finally lifting the World Cup in 2022.
Although Messi is ending his international career, he is not retiring from football altogether and is expected to continue his club career with Inter Miami.
His final Argentina appearance against Benin therefore represents the closing of an international chapter rather than the end of his playing career.
For Neymar, it is an opportunity to honour a player with whom he shared trophies, rivalry, friendship and some of the most memorable moments of his own career.
“Thank you, Leo Messi,” Neymar concluded.
