Lionel Messi’s emotional Argentina farewell will go ahead without two players who shared some of the biggest moments of his international career.
AS Roma have confirmed that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not travel to Buenos Aires for Argentina’s October 6 farewell match against Benin at the Estadio Monumental.
The decision means Messi will not have two of his former Argentina teammates beside him for what is expected to be his final appearance in the national team’s colours.
Why Roma Said No
Roma cited sporting and logistical considerations for keeping the two Argentine internationals in Italy.
The club pointed to the length of the intercontinental journey and the proximity of important club commitments.
Roma also acknowledged the personal significance of the occasion, noting that Dybala and Molina have a close relationship with Messi and were members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad.
The decision was therefore not presented by Roma as a rejection of Messi or the importance of his career, but as a decision based on the club’s sporting schedule and player workload.
A Farewell Messi Wanted to Share
Dybala’s absence carries particular emotional weight.
Messi and Dybala have shared the Argentina dressing room for years, while Molina was also part of the team that lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Reports indicate that Messi personally invited the pair to attend the farewell.
Their absence means that some of the players who were part of Argentina’s most successful era will not be present for the final celebration.
The Final Goodbye
Messi’s farewell match against Benin was arranged after he ended his international career following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.
Argentina Football Association president Claudio Tapia subsequently confirmed Messi’s return for the October 6 fixture, describing it as an opportunity for the captain to receive a farewell from supporters at home.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni also revealed that he played a significant role in persuading Messi to return for the occasion.
Scaloni said he believed a player of Messi’s stature deserved the opportunity to say goodbye to Argentine supporters properly.
The End of an Era
For more than two decades, Messi has been at the centre of Argentina’s football story.
His international career included three major titles: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.
The journey also included difficult moments.
Messi lost the 2014 World Cup final and the Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016 before eventually leading Argentina to major international success.
His final chapter with the national team will therefore be about more than one football match.
It will be a farewell to a player who became one of the defining figures in Argentine football history.
Who Will Be There?
Although Dybala and Molina will miss the event, Messi will not be saying goodbye alone.
Argentina’s current generation of players will have the opportunity to share the occasion with their captain, while supporters at the Monumental will get their final chance to watch Messi represent the national team on home soil.
The match is expected to carry an atmosphere unlike an ordinary international friendly.
For Argentina, it represents the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.
What Comes After Messi?
The biggest question for Argentina is what the national team looks like after Messi.
Scaloni has already indicated that the team will have to develop a collective leadership structure rather than attempt to simply replace Messi with one player.
Young Argentine talents are beginning to emerge, but replacing the influence of a player who has been central to the national team for so long will inevitably be a major transition.
Messi’s farewell therefore marks both an ending and a beginning.
OnPointGist
Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not be there.
Roma have made their decision.
But when Messi walks onto the pitch at the Monumental on October 6, the focus will be on the player who has carried Argentina’s No. 10 shirt through triumph, disappointment and ultimately World Cup glory.
The farewell may not include everyone Messi hoped to have beside him.
But for Argentine football, it will still be a moment to remember.
One final match. One final goodbye. One extraordinary international career.
