By Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
More than 7,800km separated Benin from Argentina, where the Cheetahs arrived expecting a memorable Messi farewell experience but reportedly left frustrated by their treatment after the match.
Benin travelled to Buenos Aires expecting one of the biggest nights in their football history. They were not simply facing Argentina; they were walking into Lionel Messi’s farewell party, an occasion that promised memories, photographs and perhaps a few treasured shirts to take home.
Instead, what happened after the final whistle has reportedly left the African side deeply disappointed.
Benin arrived ready for a special night
The excitement inside the Benin camp was obvious before kick-off. Coach Gernot Rohr had already embraced the occasion, joking that his team wanted to enjoy a “bit of a party with Messi” while also trying to spoil Argentina’s celebrations.
His players appeared equally eager to make the most of their opportunity. Before the match, Benin captain Steve Mounié presented Messi with a gift and a letter, while another member of the squad reportedly gave the Argentine superstar a rose.
For players who rarely get the opportunity to share a pitch with one of football’s biggest icons, the night was about much more than a friendly. It was supposed to be an experience they would remember for the rest of their careers.
And as it turned out, they will never forget the occasion, but not for the right reasons.Argentina get their perfect farewellOn the pitch, however, there was little Benin could do to spoil the occasion.
Argentina produced a comfortable 3-0 victory, with Messi involved in the celebrations and scoring the final goal of his international career. The Monumental was packed as supporters said goodbye to their captain in an emotional night celebrating his extraordinary career.
For Argentina, it was almost a perfect farewell. But for Benin, the real frustration reportedly came afterwards.
‘They gave us nothing’
According to comments from Rohr reported by RMC and Goal, Benin’s players attempted to exchange shirts and take photographs with their Argentine counterparts but encountered restrictions from security.
Rohr claimed the delegation was also prevented from accessing the area around Argentina’s dressing room.
“The only shame is that the Argentines gave us nothing,” the Benin coach reportedly said.
The claims have since added an uncomfortable dimension to what was otherwise a spectacular celebration.
Journalist Romain Molina has also alleged that Benin were not given a share of the match revenue or bonuses and claimed the visitors were denied access to certain areas and opportunities to interact with Argentina’s players.
Those additional claims have not been independently established, so they should be treated as allegations rather than confirmed facts.
The Lionel Messi footage adds another layer
Footage from the aftermath has also attracted attention. Some Benin players appear to approach Lionel Messi seeking photographs, with the Argentine continuing to move rather than stopping for some of them.
The footage does not show what happened immediately before those exchanges, however, and it would be unfair to conclude from the clips alone that Messi deliberately ignored or disrespected the Benin players.
From dream night to disappointment
That is what makes the story particularly uncomfortable. Benin arrived knowing they were effectively guests at Argentina’s celebration. They understood that the night belonged to Messi and the former world champions.
But they were also international footballers who had travelled over 7,800 kilometers to participate in the occasion. A shirt exchange, a photograph or a brief meeting with Argentina’s stars could have turned the fixture into a treasured memory for the Benin players.
Instead, Gernot Rohr’s comments suggest that the post-match experience left a bitter taste, a striking contrast given the scene on Tuesday night.
Argentina had the packed Monumental, the celebrations, the emotional farewell and the adulation of their supporters. Benin reportedly had difficulty even getting close to the players they had come hoping to meet.
Was Benin more than just opposition?
That question now hangs over the controversy. There is nothing unusual about security restrictions around a major international fixture, particularly when a superstar such as Messi is involved. Argentina’s officials had obvious reasons to control access during an emotional and heavily attended farewell.
But if the allegations about Benin’s treatment are accurate, critics will inevitably ask whether the visitors were given enough respect as an international opponent.
Benin may have been brought in to provide the opposition for Lionel Messi’s final international appearance on home soil. But for the players themselves, this was potentially a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
They expected to party with Messi.
They ended up leaving Buenos Aires with a 3-0 defeat, and, if Rohr’s account is accurate, the feeling that Argentina’s celebration had little room for the guests who helped make the occasion possible.
