Benin Captain Joins Argentina Squad for Messi's Final Match
Steve Mounie, sidelined by injury, traveled to Argentina to support his team in what is expected to be Lionel Messi's last international game, even paying for his own ticket.
Benin captain Steve Mounie has traveled to Argentina to be with his national team for their friendly match against Argentina, which is widely anticipated to be Lionel Messi's final game for his country. Despite being unable to play due to injury, Mounie stated he did not want to miss the historic occasion.
"When the coach called me and told me about this game. We didn't know it was going to be the last game of Leo Messi," Mounie told BBC Sport. "It was like the cherry on top of the cake. It adds some more values to this big event for Benin, and it's going to be a big event for the world of football."
Mounie, who plays for FC Augsburg in the German Bundesliga and previously played for Huddersfield Town in England, has been a long-time member of the Benin national team. He noted that he has never played a match for Benin outside of Africa.
"I cannot play," Mounie said. "I just came to join the team, to support the team. And, I need to be honest with this because football is my passion. I came for myself. I even paid for my own ticket to come here."
He expressed a desire to be close to the action, stating, "I would prefer to be on the bench, but if they tell me that I need to be in the stand, I will be in the stand. There is no problem, but I want to see the game from a pitch view."
The former Premier League striker believes the match, while a friendly, presents an opportunity for his teammates to enhance their reputations and that of Beninese football. "We are a team that is very disciplined," Mounie said. "We have a lot of young talent in the team right now that have good technical skills. We are always willing to go forward. We play pressing football, but when we cannot, we stick together and we fight."
He also drew a parallel between the Benin team and the Argentine squad, saying, "We are a team like a family. And I think we can relate to this Argentina team because they feel like they are like a family too, which Messi is a father to."
Argentina's previous match saw them defeat Burkina Faso 7-0. The upcoming fixture against Benin is expected to be a moment of significant emotion, marking the likely farewell of one of football's greatest players. Experts suggest that Messi may not play the full match, with a substitution in the second half anticipated to allow the home crowd a final chance to acknowledge their star.
The potential rarity of Messi's match-worn jersey from this game has also been highlighted, with collectors and teammates likely to vie for the prized item. Doug Bierton, founder of Classic Football Shirts, compared its potential value to that of jerseys worn by legends like Diego Maradona and Zinedine Zidane, emphasizing the historical significance of Messi's final appearance.