Lionel Messi - Argentina v Benin: The small African nation ready for Messi's big night

Situated next to Nigeria, the small west African country of Benin is generally used to being left in the shadows of its footballing powerhouse neighbour.

But the Cheetahs are about to have their own moment in the limelight.

On Tuesday (Wednesday 00:00 BST), Benin face Argentina in Buenos Aires for what will be Lionel Messi's final international match.

A specially designed Argentina kit has been created to mark the occasion - and the shirt worn by Messi could go on to become one of the most expensive ever.

The historic fixture will see the World Cup runners-up take on players who ply their trade in Finland, Switzerland's second tier and the South African Premiership.

One of Benin's best-known players is their captain, Steve Mounie.

The forward plays for German Bundesliga side FC Augsburg, but will also be known to Huddersfield Town fans having played for the club between 2017-2020.

He's been a regular with the national side for more than a decade but says he's never played a game for them outside of Africa.

"When the coach called me and told me about this game. We didn't know it was going to be the last game of Leo Messi," Mounie told BBC Sport.

"It was like the cherry on top of the cake. It adds some more values to this big event for Benin, and it's going to be a big event for the world of football."

However, injury means Mounie will play no part in the game. Instead of staying at home recovering, however, he says this was not a moment he could miss out on.

"I cannot play," he said. "I just came to join the team, to support the team. And, I need to be honest with this because football is my passion. I came for myself.

"I even paid for my own ticket to come here.

"I would prefer to be on the bench, but if they tell me that I need to be in the stand, I will be in the stand. There is no problem, but I want to see the game from a pitch view."

The former Premier League striker says, while the result of the friendly is largely inconsequential, those players who are selected will know it's a great chance to enhance their reputations and that of Beninese football.

"We are a team that is very disciplined," said Mounie. "We have a lot of young talent in the team right now that have good technical skills. We are always willing to go forward. We play pressing football, but when we cannot, we stick together and we fight.

"We are a team like a family, And I think we can relate to this Argentina team because they feel like they are like a family too, which Messi is a father to."

'Every player on the pitch is looking to swap with him'

Argentina warmed up for the fixture against Benin by defeating fellow west African side Burkina Faso 7-0.

Many will be predicting a similar scoreline this game - and it's unlikely Messi will play the full 90 minutes.

A more likely scenario is that, with Argentina a few goals to the good, Messi will be substituted in the second half, allowing the sold-out crowd at Estadio Monumental to say farewell to their country's greatest sports star.

Once the final whistle does go - don't be surprised if there's a rush towards the World Cup-winning captain.

"To get hold of a Messi match-worn shirt is incredibly tough because everybody knows how valuable they are," said Doug Bierton, founder of Classic Football Shirts.

"So every player on the pitch is looking to swap with him. It's the first time a legend has bowed out with a special edition shirt."

Bierton, whose private collection of iconic football shirts reaches into the thousands, says the last match-worn Messi shirt would be collector's dream.

He ranks it in the same category as Diego Maradona's shirt worn when he scored his 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup. A jersey which sold for £7.1m in an auction in May 2022.

Another item considered in that realm is Zinedine Zidane's shirt from the last time he played for France - which ended in a red card after being sent off for headbutting Italy's Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup final.

The fact Messi's shirt is being worn in a friendly - yet considered in such high regard - is perhaps testament to the belief he is the greatest footballer ever.

So Bierton predicts it won't be just Benin players who will be after the jersey.

"I'm sure some of his team-mates will be too, he's good friends with [Rodrigo] De Paul," he said. "He'll probably be after it as well. Does he get a gift, a retirement present?

"The kit man will be after it. Who knows? I'm literally going to watch the match just to see who he swaps shirts with."

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