Paris Saint-Germain have paid tribute to former player Lionel Messi ahead of his final appearance for Argentina, while Barcelona have made no public gesture to mark the occasion.
Messi is set to bring his international career to an end when Argentina play Benin in front of their home supporters at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. Paris Saint-Germain posted a message for the 39-year-old on social media before kick-off.
“ The end of an unforgettable chapter with Argentina. Enjoy it Leo,” the club wrote.
Messi played for Paris Saint-Germain between 2021 and 2023, having joined the French club after his long association with Barcelona ended. Despite his relatively short spell in Paris, the club chose to recognise the significance of his farewell with Argentina.
The Inter Miami forward had decided to retire from international football after Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the final of the 2026 World Cup. He previously led Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.
Messi has made 207 appearances for Argentina, scoring 125 goals and providing 68 assists. His final match will take place at the Monumental as the national team bids farewell to one of the most successful players in its history.
Barcelona, where Messi spent many years and achieved major honours, did not issue a message to him on the night of his international farewell.
The Spanish club did comment on a social media post Messi made at the start of last month announcing his retirement from international football, but deleted the comment shortly afterwards. No further message was published by Barcelona before the match against Benin.
Paris Saint-Germain’s tribute was posted on 6 October 2026, highlighting the contrast between the response from Messi’s former clubs. The French side’s message was accompanied by the Argentina flag and applause emojis as it marked the conclusion of what it called an unforgettable chapter.