Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has expressed disappointment over the treatment his players received after facing Argentina in Lionel Messi’s final international appearance, claiming they were unable to take photographs with the Argentine star or exchange shirts with his teammates.
Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, October 6, in a match that was transformed into an emotional farewell for Messi after more than two decades with the national team.
Messi produced a fitting final performance, providing two assists before scoring Argentina’s third goal from the penalty spot. He first set up Nicolás Otamendi for the opening goal before creating the second for Nico Paz, then converted from 12 yards to complete the victory.
The result, however, was not the main focus for Rohr and his players. The Benin coach said his squad had hoped to create personal memories from an extraordinary night by meeting Messi and other Argentine players after the final whistle.
According to Rohr, those plans were frustrated by security personnel at the stadium.
Speaking on French radio station RMC’s Rothen s’enflamme, the former Nigeria coach said his players tried to approach the Argentine team but were prevented from entering areas around the tunnel and dressing room.
“It was extremely difficult. We tried,” Rohr said, explaining that his players wanted photographs and shirts from their Argentine counterparts.
He said the biggest disappointment was that they left without a photograph with Messi or a shirt from the Argentine players. According to Rohr, security prevented the Benin delegation from getting into the tunnel or dressing-room area, making further interaction impossible.
The Benin players had nevertheless made an effort to honour Messi before the match.
During the pre-match proceedings, Benin captain Sessi D’Almeida presented Messi with a gift representing the Amazons of Dahomey, together with a rose and a letter from the squad. The gesture reflected the significance of the occasion for the West African team, which had been given the opportunity to participate in one of the most memorable international fixtures of Messi’s career.
Rohr also revealed that he managed to leave Buenos Aires with one special souvenir of his own.
He had a 2018 Messi shirt in his possession and handed it to Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who helped get it signed before returning it to him. Rohr said he waited about 30 minutes for the shirt to be returned.
That was effectively the only personal memento he was able to secure from the occasion.
Despite his frustration, Rohr acknowledged the broader significance of the match for Benin. Playing against Argentina at the Monumental, particularly on a night dedicated to Messi, offered his young players an experience that would be difficult to replicate.
For Argentina, the night belonged almost entirely to their captain.
More than 85,000 supporters packed the Monumental to witness Messi’s final appearance for the national team. The atmosphere was built around celebrating a player who had spent 21 years representing Argentina and had eventually transformed his relationship with the country after years of intense criticism.
Messi finished his international career as Argentina’s most-capped player, with 208 appearances, and its all-time leading scorer with 126 goals. His honours with the national team include two Copa América titles and the 2022 World Cup, while his final appearance added another memorable chapter to his international story.
The 39-year-old became visibly emotional throughout the farewell ceremony. After the final whistle, teammates and opponents gathered around him before a series of tributes, including a drone display, brought the evening to a close.
For Benin, however, the historic occasion carried a bittersweet ending.
The Squirrels had shared the pitch with one of football’s greatest players on the night he said goodbye to Argentina, but according to Rohr, their attempts to secure a photograph or exchange shirts afterwards were blocked by strict security measures.
Still, the experience itself remains a significant moment for the Benin squad.
The players may not have received the souvenirs they hoped for, but they were part of the final international chapter of Messi’s remarkable career, an occasion that will remain one of the most memorable fixtures in their footballing journey.
