Sports
In a scene anticipated by football fans worldwide, Argentine star Lionel Messi is preparing to make his final appearance in his national team's jersey when Argentina hosts Benin in the early hours of Wednesday morning, amidst exceptional ceremonies befitting one of the greatest legends in football history. The sports circles in Buenos Aires are striving to craft a unique and historic farewell for the team's captain and inspiring icon, in stark contrast to the different ending that accompanied the career of the late legend Diego Maradona with the Tango dancers. This public farewell enjoys wide interest and unprecedented attention, as indicators revealed that the number of people who entered the online ticket sales platform exceeded half a million. In this context, prominent Argentine national team commentator Ariel Sinusian pointed out that this massive turnout clearly embodies the passionate desire of the fans to be part of this immortal moment, confirming that the stadium's stands would have been completely packed even if its capacity exceeded two hundred thousand spectators. For his part, Argentina national team coach Lionel Scaloni noted the event's ability to fill five complete stadiums with fans rushing to follow Messi's international farewell. The "Monumental" stadium, the historical stronghold of River Plate, is scheduled to accommodate about eighty-five thousand spectators, coinciding with the local football association's announcement of preparing a large fan zone named "Gracias, Leo" near the stadium starting from the afternoon of the match day. Regarding organizational details, Messi's teammates will wear a special and distinctive kit adorned with names and numbers in a golden color designed specifically for this unique occasion. The arrangements also included sending invitations to all members of the national team squad that triumphed in the 2022 World Cup who missed the current roster, to attend the match accompanied by their families. Despite the absence of all official details for the honoring segments, local media reports indicated the existence of an intensive celebratory program dedicated to the Inter Miami American club star. The atmosphere is expected to witness various artistic performances preceding the opening whistle, while the bulk of the celebratory and honoring activities will focus upon the announcement of the match's end. According to what was reported by the "TyC Sports" network, Messi will receive a commemorative plaque and a unique shirt, in addition to the possibility of displaying a recorded clip on the giant stadium screens, preceded by his delivery of a direct speech to the gathered crowds. Messi, a native of Rosario, had joined the national team camp on Sunday, registering a presence in the first training sessions before sharing a traditional barbecue meal with his teammates. The veteran star concludes his training program on Monday, in preparation for playing the match expected to curtain a brilliant international career full of titles and exceptional achievements.
