MESSI SET FOR EMOTIONAL ARGENTINA RETURN IN JANUARY

Football legend Lionel Messi is set to return to Argentina in January 2027 when Inter Miami take on River Plate in a historic pre-season friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

The highly anticipated encounter is scheduled for January 19, 2027, and will mark the first-ever meeting between the two clubs.

The fixture will also give Messi another opportunity to play in front of his home supporters at the iconic stadium where he made his final international appearance for Argentina in October 2026.

The 39-year-old brought his 21-year international career to an end after captaining Argentina to several historic achievements, including their 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar.

Messi retired as Argentina’s most-capped player, with 208 appearances, and the country’s all-time leading goalscorer, having scored 126 international goals.

His final appearance came against Benin at the Estadio Monumental, where Argentina secured a 3-0 victory. Messi scored once and provided two assists as approximately 85,000 supporters celebrated his remarkable international career.

The upcoming friendly is being organised by private investment fund COC Global. In separate statements, Inter Miami and River Plate said the event would celebrate the international growth of both clubs and offer supporters an experience beyond the football match itself.

For Messi, the return will carry special significance, giving him another chance to appear before Argentine fans at a stadium closely associated with the closing chapter of his international career.

Although he has retired from international football, the match will provide a memorable opportunity for supporters to celebrate one of Argentina’s greatest sporting icons once again.