Lionel Messi has been called up by Argentina for a farewell appearance in a friendly match scheduled for October 6. This announcement comes following his recent retirement from international football, as confirmed by the Argentinian Football Association (AFA).

AFA president Claudio Tapia expressed the significance of this event, stating, "We invited the best player in the world, the icon of our selection, our captain Lionel Andrés Messi, to have a deserved farewell on 6 October, here in Argentina."

The friendly match will take place at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, marking Argentina's first match since their victorious World Cup campaign. The team will also compete in two additional friendlies during the FIFA international window from September 21 to October 6:

• September 30: Against Bolivia at Mario Kempes Stadium in Córdoba
• October 3: Hosting Burkina Faso in Buenos Aires

It is noteworthy that the match against Bolivia will have a reduced capacity by 50% due to FIFA sanctions related to incidents during the recent World Cup.

In addition to Messi, footballers Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are set to attend the farewell match. The AFA plans to announce the names of other players called up from the local league on Friday.