Lionel Messi will make his 208th and final appearance for Argentina on 6 October 2026, a farewell friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires' Estadio Monumental that closes a 21-year international career.
The 39-year-old announced his international retirement in August, weeks after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. He leaves as Argentina's record appearance-maker and leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 games and a record 68 assists, plus the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles.
His playing future beyond that is less certain. Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 season, but after the death of his father, Jorge, in August 2026 he has expressed serious doubts about continuing to play for much longer. His father had managed his affairs from the very beginning.
Off the pitch, his next steps are already taking shape. Forbes estimated Messi's net worth at about $1.1 billion in June 2026, with earnings of roughly $140 million over the previous year — split between salary and endorsements, placing him among the world's three highest-paid athletes.
Messi has also become a club owner. He bought Spanish fifth-tier side UE Cornellà in April 2026, then agreed to take over second-division CD Eldense, a deal the club announced on 1 October and which remains pending approval from Spain's sports council under the country's Sports Law. In Uruguay, he and former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez founded Deportivo LSM in 2025, a club that earned promotion to the country's third tier in its first season.
Inter Miami also wants to keep him involved. The club's business leadership has said it wants Messi to remain connected to the franchise after his playing career, with the possibility of him joining the ownership group once he is no longer an active MLS player. The size of any future stake has not been disclosed.
Youth football is another priority. His Messi Cup, an Under-16 academy tournament launched in 2025 with eight teams, doubled to 16 teams in 2026, with clubs including Atlético Madrid, Chelsea, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Arsenal taking part. Organisers said Messi surprised them at the first edition by attending every match rather than only the final.
Despite the scale of the portfolio, Messi himself plays down his experience. Speaking at the America Business Forum in Miami last November, he said: "Business is something that interests me. I would like to keep learning because I know nothing and I am just starting out."
For now, the confirmed facts are these: the Argentina farewell is set, the Inter Miami contract runs to 2028, and the Cornellà and Deportivo LSM deals are complete. What remains unknown is whether Messi sees out that contract, how large his future Inter Miami stake might be, and whether Spanish regulators will clear the Eldense acquisition. Argentina must also decide who inherits his number 10 shirt — coach Lionel Scaloni has said only that it will not be assigned until after the Benin match.