Argentina face Bolivia in Córdoba as Messi's farewell tour begins
Argentina played their first match since losing the 2026 World Cup final to Spain, a friendly against Bolivia in Córdoba overshadowed by Lionel Messi's upcoming farewell from the national team.
Argentina's national football team played a friendly against Bolivia on Wednesday, September 30, at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba — its first match since losing the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. The fixture opens a three-match international window that will end with Lionel Messi's farewell from the national team.
Lineup and key changes
According to TyC Sports, coach Lionel Scaloni fielded a starting eleven of: Emiliano Martínez; Agustín Giay, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Román Vega; Nicolás Paz, Exequiel Palacios, Alexis Mac Allister, Gianluca Prestianni; Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez. The main novelty was Prestianni's inclusion ahead of Franco Mastantuono, Valentín Barco and Matías Soulé, along with Scaloni's decision to start both Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez up front together. However, other outlets published different pre-match line-ups: Radio Mitre reported a probable XI with Facundo Medina instead of Vega and Valentín Barco alongside Nico Paz instead of Prestianni, while Sports Illustrated's predicted line-up listed Giovanni Simeone, Enzo Fernández and other names entirely. The discrepancy likely reflects pre-match predictions versus Scaloni's confirmed selection.
Messi's farewell approaches
The match against Bolivia is the first of three friendlies marking Lionel Messi's exit from the national team. According to Radio Mitre, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) released an emotional tribute video to Messi ahead of kick-off, set to the song "Soy Argentino" and tracing his career from his youth at Newell's through his years with the Albiceleste. Per La Gaceta, Messi himself was not included in the squad for the Bolivia match, disappointing fans who had traveled specifically to see him. Sports Illustrated reports he is set to play in the two remaining friendlies — against Burkina Faso on October 3 and Benin on October 6, both at El Monumental — with the Benin match billed as his formal send-off before a sold-out crowd. Cristian Romero has been named as Messi's successor as team captain.
Fans gather in Córdoba
Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the national team's hotel in Córdoba before the match, as described by La Gaceta. A local public holiday (San Jerónimo) drew families from as far as 350 kilometers away hoping for autographs or photos. One notable scene involved a grandmother, María del Carmen Albarellos, who used a recorder flute to lead chants from the crowd, trying to coax players into appearing at the hotel entrance.
Background
Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain, with Ferran Torres scoring the winner against a ten-man Argentina side, according to Sports Illustrated. Leandro Paredes and Nahuel Molina received lengthy suspensions over their conduct after that defeat. Historically, Argentina has won 30 of 42 meetings with Bolivia, who are ranked 77th in the world and have never beaten Argentina on Argentine soil, last winning against them in 2017. BBC match data showed Argentina dominating possession, 81.1% to 18.9%.
