85,000 Tickets Sold Out in Under Two Hours as Argentina Prepare Messi’s Farewell
By Boye Goodluck, SPORTS DESK – About 85,000 tickets for Lionel Messi’s final international appearance for Argentina sold out in less than two hours as the country prepares a huge farewell for its legendary captain.
Messi is set to wear Argentina’s iconic sky blue-and-white jersey for the last time when the world champions face Benin in a highly anticipated friendly at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
The sold-out encounter will be turned into a giant “thank you” celebration for the 39-year-old forward, who is bringing the curtain down on an international career spanning more than two decades.
The Monumental, Argentina’s largest football stadium, is expected to be filled to capacity as supporters gather to celebrate the man who led the country to major honours, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2021 Copa América.
Millions of fans around the world are also expected to watch as Messi makes what could be his final appearance in the national colours.
Benin, ranked 89th in the latest FIFA rankings, have never qualified for the World Cup and face the daunting task of trying to contain one of football’s most celebrated players in his farewell game.
For Argentina, however, the result will likely be secondary to the occasion, with the focus firmly on celebrating Messi’s extraordinary contribution to the national team.
