Benin players were 'blocked' from doing three things after Lionel Messi's farewell match
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) allegedly prevented Benin's players and staff from doing three things after Tuesday's friendly match between the two sides, according to Benin head coach Gernot Rohr.
The match was Lionel Messi's farewell to the Argentina national team after he announced his international retirement following the World Cup, and the 39-year-old marked his final appearance by scoring a penalty in a 3-0 win.
Before kick-off, Benin players gave Messi a statue, a letter written by the squad and a rose. But the manner of the post-match celebrations - which included fireworks and an on-pitch speech by Messi - meant the opposition couldn't get as close to him or the rest of the squad as they may have liked.
'It was extremely difficult...' - Benin head coach addresses Argentina post-match scenes
Speaking to French radio station RMC, Benin's German head coach Rohr explained that security prevented Benin players or staff from entering Argentina's dressing room, or even the tunnel area, after full-time in Buenos Aires.
He also claimed that players were stopped from taking photos with Messi and that they did not receive his shirt - with Rohr adding that his only momento was a 2018 Messi shirt signed directly from the man himself at the request of Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni.
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"The Argentinians gave our players nothing," he explained. "Not even a photo of Messi. We wanted to exchange jerseys, but we didn't get a single one.
"They wouldn't even let us into their tunnel. Security was turning everyone away. Some players were even bringing their jerseys to exchange with other players. We tried everything, but it was no use.
"I managed to give my 2018 Messi jersey to the coach. He had me sign it and then gave it back to me. I waited half an hour, but it's not a big deal.
"It was fantastic, but stress-free. The result wasn't the most important thing. For us, from a sporting perspective, it was about learning, about allowing our young players to have a very rich international experience."
According to French journalist Romain Molina, Benin players and staff did not receive any bonuses from the match, while the Benin Football Federation didn't receive a 'single centime from the generated revenue'. Neither federation has yet publicly commented on those claims.
Lionel Messi's feelings on Benin farewell match revealed
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Messi was originally 'not keen' on playing a farewell match at all, having decided to retire following the 2026 World Cup final defeat to Spain.
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"He viewed it as a final money-making venture by the AFA, using his name to secure millions in revenue," the report claims. "Ultimately he accepted, but the match has generated considerable controversy."
The report adds that Benin accepted to play in the match 'for free, content with merely appearing in a historic photograph'.
Topics: Argentina, Lionel Messi
Ryan Smart