Lionel Messi set for 'Last Tango' with Argentina as Cristiano Ronaldo pouts on Portugal sidelines

Key Points:

• Lionel Messi will earn his 208th and final cap for Argentina in a farewell friendly against Benin at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium, concluding a storied international career with 125 goals and 68 assists.
• Messi captained Argentina to major successes between 2021 and 2024, including two Copa America titles, the 2022 World Cup victory, and the Finalissima, ending a long trophy drought for the national team.
• The farewell match, called 'The Last Tango,' sold out rapidly with 85,018 tickets, featuring a special kit and attendance by the entire 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families.
• Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni highlighted Messi's unique influence on the pitch and acknowledged the national team will face a new era without him, emphasizing the emotional significance of his departure.
• Meanwhile, Portugal faces uncertainty as Cristiano Ronaldo is involved in a dispute with new coach Jorge Jesus, having left training camp abruptly and been sidelined in recent matches, though the federation hopes to resolve the issue internally.