Owner, businessman & player: Messi has big plans as a golden era ends

Lionel Messi's Argentina career will end in a friendly against Benin. BBC Sport looks at what next for the 39-year-old?

On what will be his 208th appearance, the country's most-capped player and record goal scorer will bid an emotional farewell in a friendly against Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Arguably Argentina's greatest ever player - only Diego Maradona comes close - announced his retirement from the national team on 31 August, six weeks after the World Cup final defeat by Spain, saying he had nothing more to give.

Coach Lionel Scaloni insists that if Messi ever wants to carry on, he can, and there is no embarrassment in changing one's mind. But that chapter seems closed.

His club career though goes on. The contract with Inter Miami runs to the end of the 2028 season, but it is reviewed year by year, and nobody close to him expects him to walk away a day before he has to.

In fact, it is quite likely he will renew it if he feels, mentally and physically, up for it.

Source: BBC Sport