Messi's final Argentina match tickets sell out in 90 minutes

Tickets for Lionel Messi's final match for Argentina sold out in around 90 minutes as fans rushed to secure seats for the 6 October farewell against Benin at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium, according to reports.

Sales opened through the Deportick platform at 6pm local time on Thursday (24 September), with thousands of supporters in virtual queues as demand surged.

Argentine newspaper Clarín reported that the match was effectively sold out within an hour and a half. Diario Popular and Olé also reported the same.

La Nación reported that some users waited more than an hour to access the ticketing system, with complaints emerging on social media over difficulties with the platform.

According to ticket information published by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), the cheapest general-admission tickets were priced at 90,000 pesos, while the most expensive seats cost 4,80,000 pesos.

The sale was initially scheduled for earlier in the week, but the AFA postponed it by 48 hours to Thursday.

Messi, 39, is set to play his 208th and final international for Argentina against Benin, after announcing his retirement from international football following Argentina's defeat by Spain in the 2026 Fifa World Cup final.

The AFA confirmed earlier this month that Messi would join the squad specifically for the final of Argentina's three home friendlies during the international window.

Argentina will face Bolivia in Cordoba on 30 September and Burkina Faso at the Monumental on 3 October before Messi returns for his farewell match three days later. Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are also expected to join the squad for the Benin game.

The rapid sellout reflects the strong demand to see Messi in an Argentina shirt one final time after a 21-year international career in which he became the country's record appearance-maker and leading goalscorer.