Lionel Messi’s expected international farewell could also mark an important moment for one of his long-standing Argentina team-mates, Nicolás Tagliafico, who has hinted that his own career may be entering its final phase.
Messi has already announced his intention to bring his international career towards its conclusion. Argentina are due to face Benin on 6 October at the Monumental in Buenos Aires, with the fixture potentially becoming the legendary forward’s final appearance for his country on home soil.
While attention has naturally centred on Messi, Tagliafico’s comments have added another layer of interest to the occasion. The 34-year-old defender has not announced his retirement, but he acknowledged that he is approaching the later stages of his career and wants to make the most of the time he has left.
“I am at the end of my career, so I try to enjoy every moment as much as possible, because nobody knows when the final moment will come,” Tagliafico said.
The comments have prompted speculation that the experienced left-back could also be nearing the end of his international journey. Tagliafico has previously made remarks suggesting that he is aware of the limited time remaining in his playing career, although there has been no formal confirmation that he intends to retire after the Benin fixture.
Discussing Messi’s impending departure, Tagliafico acknowledged that it would be difficult for Argentina to lose a player who has been central to the national side for so long. Messi has been a key figure for the country for around two decades, leading the team through several major tournaments and becoming the defining player of his generation.
“Events like this are always difficult. But that is reality, and we have to accept it. At some point, it was always going to happen,” Tagliafico said.
The defender also referred to Argentina’s experience following Diego Maradona’s departure from the national team. He believes the country must once again remain strong and continue moving forward when the Messi era eventually comes to an end.
For Tagliafico, the challenge will not simply be finding a replacement for Messi. Argentina will have to adapt as a team and establish a new identity without a player who has been a constant presence for much of the careers of the current generation.
“We had the best player in the world with us for 20 years. But we have to work hard for what is coming and continue improving as a team,” he said. “It is difficult to accept, but we have to keep moving forward.”
Tagliafico has been part of an important period in Argentina’s recent football history. He was a member of the squad that won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and his experience has made him one of the senior figures within a team that has undergone significant change over recent years.
His comments therefore carry added significance as Argentina prepare for life beyond some of their most experienced players. Messi’s potential departure represents the end of a remarkable era, while Tagliafico’s remarks suggest that another member of the World Cup-winning generation could also be approaching a decision over his future.
For now, Tagliafico has not confirmed that he will retire from international football. The 6 October fixture at the Monumental could nevertheless become a particularly emotional occasion if it proves to be Messi’s final appearance for Argentina and, at the same time, signals the beginning of the end for another experienced member of the squad.
