Lionel Messi Accused of a New Low by Benin Coach After Alleged Post-Match Snub

Benin assistant coach Tunde Adelakun has accused Lionel Messi of avoiding his players after Argentina's 3-0 victory in Buenos Aires on 6 October.

He also alleged that security personnel blocked the visitors from approaching the retiring captain during celebrations at the Estadio Monumental.

The complaint followed Messi's final international appearance, watched by more than 85,000 supporters.

While the 39-year-old scored once and provided two assists, Adelakun said the visitors were disappointed with how they were treated after the match.

Lionel Messi's Farewell Lap Prompts 'New Low' Accusation

Writing for The African Football Club, Adelakun said several young Benin players had grown up idolising Messi. They hoped to shake his hand, take photographs and congratulate him after the friendly.

Instead, the assistant coach described hurried handshakes and alleged that security personnel repeatedly rebuffed the players. He said a proposed guard of honour also failed when security staff dispersed Benin players gathered to applaud Messi.

Adelakun's sharpest criticism concerned Messi's lap of honour. He wrote that his players lined up along the captain's expected route, only for Messi to turn toward the centre of the pitch.

Adelakun interpreted the movement as deliberate avoidance. 'That was a new low for a man revered by many and who, in many young African minds, could do no wrong,' he wrote.

He questioned whether England or Spain would have received similar treatment. That comparison reflects Adelakun's concerns about fairness, but does not establish discriminatory intent.

He also described an exhausting journey from Paris to Buenos Aires. For the visitors, playing Argentina was a rare chance to share the pitch with a footballer many had admired for years.

Gernot Rohr Questions Security at Lionel Messi Farewell

Benin head coach Gernot Rohr separately complained about the arrangements in an interview with French radio station RMC on 7 October. He said his players couldn't take photos with Messi or exchange shirts with Argentina's squad.

Rohr said security stopped visitors from entering the corridor leading to Argentina's dressing room. His account supports complaints about restricted access, but it doesn't establish who imposed those rules or why.

The head coach did secure one souvenir. He said he passed a 2018 Messi shirt to Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, who arranged for it to be signed and returned.

Rohr offered a different perspective in a separate interview with Pan Africa Football. He praised Messi's humility and described the occasion as a memorable experience for Benin's younger players.

Messi and the opposition made contact earlier in the match. Footage of the 10th-minute standing ovation showed Benin players approaching and greeting him on the pitch.

Those greetings complicate any suggestion that Messi avoided the visitors throughout the evening. They do not, however, settle Adelakun's complaint about the later lap of honour.

Lionel Messi's Final Argentina Match Divides Supporters

Messi ended his 21-year international career with 208 appearances and 126 goals. Against Benin, he assisted Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz before scoring a penalty in the 71st minute.

His three children accompanied him onto the pitch before kick-off. A giant 'Gracias' shirt and a post-match drone display formed part of a farewell celebrating his role in Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph.

Supporters debating the complaint on Reddit disagreed about what the visiting players could reasonably expect. One wrote, 'Like basic human decency isn't too much to ask.' Others argued the ceremony gave Messi limited time with opponents.

Neither the reason for Messi's change of direction nor the instructions given to security personnel have been established. Adelakun's account nevertheless describes a distinct disappointment for players who wanted to applaud their opponent one last time.

The moment he disputes came after the final whistle, when Argentina's celebrations were already underway.