Argentina - Benin: Saturnin Allagbé delighted to be able to face Lionel Messi

06.10.26 16:00 Friendly International

Argentina

-

:

Benin

-

The meeting between Argentina and Benin has not left the Beninese players indifferent. For Saturnin Allagbé, this match will have a special significance, as it could allow him to share the pitch with Lionel Messi, a player he watched on television during his childhood.

“We would never have imagined that this could happen”

The Guépards goalkeeper grew up watching the Argentine captain play. Finding himself facing him today is therefore a situation that is difficult to imagine.

When you grew up watching Messi play, finding yourself on the same pitch as him is inevitably a special moment; we would never have imagined that this could happen.

The possibility of seeing Messi bid farewell to Argentina in this match further increases the importance of the occasion for Benin.

He is a monument, the king of world football. For him to play his last match against Benin is unimaginable.

Allagbé already knows that this evening could remain etched in his memory. For him, experiencing such a moment represents “a special moment, one of those you do not forget in a career”.

The Guépards do not want to be mere spectators

Although the emotion will be inevitable, the Beninese goalkeeper nevertheless refuses to let the prestige of the fixture distract the players from their mission.

We all know Messi’s talent and what he represents for world football, but we will be there to defend our country and Benin’s colours. Once the match begins, we will have to put our emotions aside and remain focused on our objective.

Between the dream of sharing the pitch with Messi and the desire to rise to the occasion against the world champions, Saturnin Allagbé knows that the Guépards will experience a special evening on 6 October 2026. The challenge now will be to turn that emotion into energy without losing sight of what matters: making the most of their opportunity against Argentina.

Aliou Toundé |

Editorfr

Related teams and leagues

Argentina

Benin

Friendly International