River Plate presented Lionel Messi with a special tribute before his final match for Argentina, handing him a commemorative plaque, a personalised number 10 shirt and honorary membership of the club.
Messi received the recognition in the dressing room at the Monumental Stadium from River Plate president Stefano Di Carlo, only minutes before Argentina’s match against Benin on Wednesday morning.
The forward marked his final appearance for the national team by scoring a penalty as Argentina secured a 3-0 victory.
River Plate announced the tribute on its official X account with the message: “Thank you, captain.”
The honorary membership card, printed on Sunday 4 October, included a reference with particular significance rather than a conventional membership number. It carried the code “ARG1812022” – the date of the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, when Argentina defeated France on penalties to win their third world title.
The club’s accompanying message described Messi as: “World champion, unbeaten at the Monumental and honorary member of River: Lionel Messi.”
The presentation also included a River Plate shirt bearing Messi’s name and his familiar number 10.
Messi’s relationship with River Plate could have taken a different path earlier in his career. He had the opportunity to play for the Buenos Aires club after leaving Newell’s Old Boys, who were unable to meet the cost of his treatment for growth hormone deficiency.
He went on trial with River Plate and impressed, but ultimately moved to Barcelona, where he established himself and wrote the most important chapters of his career.
The tribute offered a reminder of both Messi’s standing in Argentine football and the connection between his international achievements and River Plate’s Monumental stadium. Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, referenced on the membership card, came after their penalty shootout victory over France in Qatar.
