Messi returns to Argentina for farewell match against Benin in Buenos Aires
Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina on 2 October ahead of his final national-team appearance, a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. Coverage also looks back on his long, sometimes uneasy relationship with Argentine fans.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina on Friday 2 October ahead of his farewell game with the national team, flying from Miami on a private jet with his family and landing in his hometown of Rosario. Arab NewsRC “Messi, who announced his international retirement on Aug. 31, flew in from Miami on a private jet with his family, landing in his hometown of Rosario” Read at Arab News ↗ Mixed · 2He is due to play a friendly against Benin at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, his final appearance for Argentina. Arab NewsRC “Messi is set to play in a friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in a final appearance” Read at Arab News ↗ CNAN “The farewell against Benin at Buenos Aires' Monumental stadium ends an international career spanning more than two decades” Read at CNA ↗ Right · 1The Argentine Football Association said the aim of the match is to ensure "the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves." Arab NewsRC “the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves.” Read at Arab News ↗
Right · 1Arab News reports that Messi announced his international retirement on 31 August, and that his 21-year Argentina career leaves 125 goals, the 2022 World Cup title, and two more World Cup finals, lost to Germany in 2014 and, according to the article, to Spain this year. Arab NewsRC “leaving behind a legacy that includes 125 goals and reaching two more World Cup finals — losing to Spain this year and Germany in 2014.” Read at Arab News ↗ Right · 1Several fellow 2022 World Cup winners are to join the celebrations, but Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina cannot attend because Roma declined to release them. Arab NewsRC “Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina were unable to attend after Roma declined to release them.” Read at Arab News ↗ Right · 1Messi is not playing in Argentina's other games this international window: the team beat Bolivia 4-0 on Wednesday and will also play Burkina Faso on Saturday. Arab NewsRC “The team beat Bolivia 4-0 on Wednesday and will also play Burkina Faso on Saturday.” Read at Arab News ↗
Centre · 1CNA, drawing on Reuters interviews, frames the farewell as the end of a "love under construction": the Argentine football authorities initially did not know who he was, having moved to Barcelona as a teenager. CNAN “a journey that began with the country's football authorities not even knowing his name”“"It was a love under construction."” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Journalist Sergio Levinsky said an Argentine Football Association employee tracked the family down via a Rosario telephone directory asking for "Leonardo", and that a fax to Barcelona spelled his surname "Mecci" because officials thought he might be Italian. CNAN “The AFA sent Barcelona a fax asking about a player called "Mecci," spelling the surname with a double "c" because officials believed he might be Italian, Levinsky said.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Messi played two under-20 friendlies for Argentina in 2004, and early on faced suspicion as someone raised in Spain, and was labelled "pecho frio" by some fans for not matching his club form. CNAN “Messi played two under-20 friendlies for Argentina in 2004”“labelled "pecho frio", lacking heart or fire, by some fans” Read at CNA ↗
Centre · 1Levinsky says perception began to change with a 2011 World Cup qualifier against Colombia, and the bond deepened when Argentines publicly pleaded for Messi to return after he briefly retired following the 2016 Copa America final defeat by Chile on penalties. CNAN “A World Cup qualifier against Colombia in 2011 began to change that perception”“Rather than blame him, Argentines pleaded publicly for him to return.” Read at CNA ↗ Centre · 1Under coach Lionel Scaloni, Messi led Argentina to two Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup. CNAN “guiding Argentina to two Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup” Read at CNA ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- CNA runs a feature, citing Reuters interviews, on Messi's slow, hard-won acceptance by Argentina, told through anecdotes.
- Emphasis
- Early bureaucratic mix-ups, doubts over a player raised in Spain, the 2011 and 2016 turning points, and comparisons with Maradona.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention his arrival, the retirement announcement date, or the other players unable to attend.
- Charged language
- “love story”“hard-won”“love under construction”
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Arab News runs a short news report on Messi's arrival and the logistics of the farewell, with an emotional tone.
- Emphasis
- Arrival in Rosario, the AFA's send-off message, absent teammates, career statistics and the team's other fixtures.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Little historical context on Messi's relationship with Argentine fans.
- Charged language
- “emotional farewell”“the best player in the world”
What every side reports
- Messi's final Argentina appearance is a farewell match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.
- Messi won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina.
- His international career spans more than two decades.
Argentina national football team organisation
The Argentine Football Association says the match is meant to give Messi the home send-off he deserves.
“the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves.” — Arab News
Lionel Messi person
Messi announced his international retirement on 31 August and is playing only the Benin match in this window; the coverage quotes no direct statement from him.
“Messi is not taking part in any of Argentina's other games in this international window.” — Arab News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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CNAN ·
Messi farewell closes a long, hard-won love story with Argentina
Sympathetic Reflective feature on how Argentina came to embrace Messi, told through Levinsky and anecdotes.
Right1 article
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Lionel Messi returns to Argentina ahead of emotional farewell match with national team
Sympathetic Brief news report on Messi's arrival and farewell plans, celebratory of his legacy.
- 2 Oct 18:41 First Arab NewsRC Lionel Messi returns to Argentina ahead of emotional farewell match with national team
- 4 Oct 16:03 +45h 22m CNAN Messi farewell closes a long, hard-won love story with Argentina
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.