West African nation Benin is set to play Argentina in Buenos Aires in a friendly match that will mark the conclusion of Lionel Messi’s international career. The fixture has drawn significant attention due to its historical nature, with Argentina having created a special edition kit for the occasion. The match-worn shirt is expected to become highly valuable among collectors, potentially ranking among the most expensive football jerseys ever sold.
Benin’s captain, Steve Mounie, plays professionally in Germany’s Bundesliga for FC Augsburg and previously competed in England’s Premier League with Huddersfield Town. Despite recovering from an injury that will prevent him from participating in the match, Mounie made the decision to travel to Buenos Aires to support his team, even purchasing his own ticket for the occasion. He expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity, stating that the team is disciplined and features young talent with strong technical abilities.
Argentina enters the match following a dominant 7-0 victory over Burkina Faso in their previous fixture. The South American side is heavily favored given the significant disparity in the teams’ respective playing levels, with Benin’s squad featuring players from various European leagues and domestic competitions. Expectations suggest Argentina will build a substantial lead, potentially allowing Messi to be substituted in the second half to permit the crowd at Estadio Monumental to pay tribute to the retiring player.
Experts in football memorabilia anticipate intense competition for Messi’s shirt following the final whistle. The special edition jersey is being compared in potential value to other iconic match-worn items, including Diego Maradona’s shirt from the 1986 World Cup and Zinedine Zidane’s jersey from the 2006 World Cup final. Collectors and analysts suggest that both opposing players and Messi’s own teammates may seek to exchange shirts with the retiring legend.
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