Benin Set to Host Historic Clash as Messi’s Argentina Visit Ahead of Farewell

One of Benin’s most recognizable faces is their captain, Steve Mounie.

The forward currently plays for German Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, though Huddersfield Town supporters may also remember him from his spell with the club between 2017 and 2020.

Mounie has been a consistent presence in the national team for over a decade, but he reveals that this will be his first game representing Benin outside of Africa.

“When the coach called me to tell me about this match, we didn’t realize it would be Messi’s final game,” Mounie shared with BBC Sport. “It felt like the cherry on top of the cake. It adds great significance to this major event for Benin and for world football.”

Unfortunately, injury rules Mounie out of the actual game. Yet rather than recovering at home, the passionate forward felt compelled to travel and support his teammates in this historic moment.

“I can’t play,” he admitted. “But I made the trip just to be with the team, to support them. To be honest, football is my heart and soul. I came for myself.”

“I even paid for my own ticket to get here,” he added with pride. “I’d rather be on the bench, but if the coaching staff says I need to watch from the stands, that’s fine. There’s no issue. I just want to experience the game up close.”

While the outcome of this friendly holds little competitive weight, Mounie believes the opportunity is invaluable for the players involved, offering them a platform to raise their profiles and put Beninese football on the global map.

“We’re a very disciplined team,” Mounie said. “We have plenty of young, talented players right now who possess excellent technical skills. We always aim to play attacking football, but when that’s not possible, we stay united and give everything we have.” He went on to draw a parallel between his squad and Argentina’s renowned unit. “We’re like a family, and I believe we can relate to this Argentina team. They feel like a family too, with Messi as the father figure.”

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