Lionel Messi won’t be the only player getting a proper send-off when Argentina close out their upcoming triple header of friendlies. The AFA confirmed on Friday that Nicolas Otamendi has been included in the squad list specifically for the October 6 clash against Benin at the Monumental, despite having already retired from the national team following the World Cup final loss to Spain in July. The call-up was part of a broader update to Argentina‘s roster for the September-October window, which saw six additional players from Argentine football included, bringing the full squad to 37 names. Along with Otamendi, Thiago Almada, Santiago Beltrán, Tobías Andrada, Leonel Flores, and Tomás Palacios were also added to the list ahead of the games against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benín. It’s also worth noting that Messi, Rodrigo De Paul, and Giovani Lo Celso will only join the squad for that final friendly against Benín, skipping the earlier matches against Bolivia and Burkina Faso. From abroad, Equi Fernández, Santiago Simón, and Valentín Gómez were also added to the roster for this international window. Otamendi announced his international retirement just days after that defeat, closing out a career that spanned 139 appearances across four World Cups. Along the way, the defender won the 2022 World Cup, back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima against Italy, cementing his place as one of the most decorated players in Argentina’s history. Lionel Messi’s farewell games will help Argentina’s suspended World Cup players serve bans Raphinha's hat-trick against Sevilla included a header, a right-footed finish, and a left-footed strike, a perfect hat-trick that even Messi's LaLiga-record 36 trebles never included. Raphinha's hat-trick against Sevilla pushed him to 11 goals in seven LaLiga games, matching Lionel Messi's mark and leaving only Cristiano Ronaldo's record within reach. Messi’s farewell is beginning to take shape, but Scaloni has revealed there is one thing he wishes had been different during their time together. Heading into the upcoming international break, Ronaldo's incredible scoring record remains unmatched, while Messi is preparing for an emotional farewell to the national team.