India, Oct. 3 -- Lionel Messi arrived in Argentina on Friday ahead of his farewell appearance for the national team, with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner set to play against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

The Argentine Football Association said the friendly had been organised to ensure that "the best player in the world gets the home send-off he truly deserves".

Messi, who announced his international retirement on August 31, flew from Miami with his family on a private jet and landed in his hometown of Rosario, about 300 kilometres north of Buenos Aires.

Several members of Argentina's 2022 World Cup-winning squad are expected to join the celebrations. Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina, however, will miss the occasion after Roma decli...