In a move that drew attention and ignited the atmosphere before the anticipated match, Benin national team captain Steve Mounie made controversial statements sharply criticizing the playing style of the Argentine Tango team. These remarks came ahead of the match scheduled for early Wednesday, where Mounie described the Argentine style of play as rough and unclean, considering these methods a defining characteristic of South American football. He added that the opponent always tends to manipulate the opponent's mind and adopt unclean tactics on the green rectangle, stressing at the same time that his team will be extremely cautious and pay close attention to these matters during the match. These charged atmospheres come to increase the intensity of the wide public and media anticipation surrounding the match, especially since it gains exceptional importance due to the possibility of witnessing the final appearance of legendary star Lionel Messi wearing the Argentina national team shirt.