Lionel Messi could break records in farewell match after Benin defender reveals their 'special plan' for game

Benin defender Mohamed Tijani has gone viral after revealing that his side have a "special plan" for Lionel Messi when they come up against Argentina.

Messi will play his final international match for Argentina when they take on Benin, FIFA's 93rd-ranked side, at the Estadio Mas Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday night.

The 39-year-old, who is La Albiceleste's all-time appearance maker and record goalscorer, having scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, has consistently broken records over the years.

And he could potentially produce some record-breaking numbers in his farewell game after Mohamed Tijani admitted that his team "don't need to mark" Messi and have "no special plans" to do so.

Speaking to a reporter from Argentine outlet C5N, Tijani began by declaring Messi as "the best in the world". He was then asked how Benin plan to stop Messi in his farewell match.

“We don't need to mark Messi,” Tijani replied as he stood outside a convenience store. “We are going to enjoy this match. There’s no special plan to defend against Messi, we just have to enjoy this game, and that’s it.”

Moments later, the former Rayo Vallecano defender declared his admiration for Argentina's number 10. “Messi, you are the god," he said proudly. "To me, he’s the best in the world, like I’m telling you.”

Benin’s team doctor then got involved in the interview. “He’s the best in the world," he shouted. "He’s the god of football."

Two World Cup winners blocked from attending Lionel Messi's final Argentina match

All of Messi's World Cup-winning team-mates - who aren't already in the Argentina squad - have been invited to attend the game on Tuesday night, but Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not be present.

Messi's farewell match will take place at 8pm local time, meaning it falls within the ongoing international window, with a number of European nations playing their final Nations League matches of the break on the same evening.

READ MORE: Why Argentina cannot retire Lionel Messi's shirt number as rarely-used FIFA rule explained

Dybala and Molina, meanwhile, have been blocked from travelling out to Argentina.

Speaking to Sky Sports Italy, Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini stated that both players have been told to stay in Rome because of the amount of time they would have to spend in the air ahead of their side's upcoming clash against Como.

"We are too close to an important game like our one on Sunday," Gasperini explained. "We're a long way from Argentina and sending there them there would have meant making them fly for a lot of hours so close to the match, and Roma preferred for that not to happen."

Lionel Messi's feelings on Argentina farewell match revealed as 'money-making' claim made

Messi is said to have had his doubts about the motivations behind his farewell against Benin.

"Messi himself was not keen on the idea of this tribute match, as he viewed it as a final money-making venture by the AFA, using his name to secure millions in revenue," a report from Gazzetta dello Sport claimed.

"Ultimately, he accepted, but the match has generated considerable controversy. For this extended international break, the AFA decided to play three home friendlies, inviting Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin.

"Benin has agreed to participate for free in Messi's farewell, content with merely appearing in a historic photograph."