08/10/2026
Messi accused of racism after declining selfie with benin player during farewell match.
According to Goal.com, Messi's refusal to take a selfie with a Benin player after the match has sparked controversy, with some social media users accusing him of racism.
On Wednesday morning, Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium. After the final whistle, Messi greeted the Benin players, wanting to savor his final moments in national team colors. An enthusiastic Benin player appeared to ask Messi to take a selfie with him, but the 39-year-old declined and walked away.
Throughout the match, Messi showed no disrespect toward the Benin players. The game was briefly paused in the 10th minute as fans paid tribute to Messi with a warm ovation; Messi also embraced and greeted the players.
Some social media users sharply criticized the incident, calling Messi's actions "lacking humility" and suggesting he could have taken a few seconds to pose with the Benin player, considering the significance of his final friendly match.