Messi invited by Argentina for farewell appearance after international retirement

Lionel Messi has been invited by Argentina to make a farewell appearance in a home friendly in October following his international retirement, Argentine Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia confirmed on Tuesday.

"We invited the best player in the world to play, the icon of our selection, our captain Lionel Andres Messi, to have a deserved farewell on October 6, here in Argentina," Tapia said on social media.

Argentina will play three home friendlies during the September 21-October 6 FIFA international window, their first matches since the World Cup.

They will take on Benin in Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium on October 6, where Messi, who announced his retirement from international football last month, has been invited to play his farewell match.

Argentina will also face Bolivia at Cordoba's Mario Kempes Stadium on September 30 before moving to Buenos Aires to host Burkina Faso on October 3.

The Bolivia match will be played with capacity reduced by 50% as part of FIFA sanctions relating to incidents during this year's World Cup.

Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada must serve suspensions of 10, seven and one match respectively for their roles in an altercation during the World Cup final against Spain. —Reuters