ESPN FC shared a photograph of Benin captain Sessi D’Almeida presenting Lionel Messi with a gift before the coin toss, in a pre-match moment ahead of Messi’s final international game for Argentina.
The image, posted on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, showed the two captains meeting on the pitch before kickoff. ESPN FC captioned the post: “Benin captain Sessi D'Almeida presented Messi with a gift before the coin toss 💙”
The presentation took place on Tuesday, October 6, before what was described as Messi’s official farewell match for Argentina.
D’Almeida, a 30-year-old midfielder, was standing in as Benin’s captain while Steve Mounié was unavailable through injury.
The gift was a custom tribute inspired by the Amazons of Dahomey, the famed all-female warriors of the historic Kingdom of Dahomey, in what is now Benin.
The gesture connected the visiting team’s heritage with the occasion, offering Messi a keepsake before the match began.
The exchange took place during the formal pre-match proceedings, shortly before the coin toss. Though brief, the presentation added a personal note to a night centered on Messi’s Argentina career.
Players and officials gathered on the pitch as the captains met, with the gift serving as a gesture of respect from Benin’s team.
Messi’s final appearance in an Argentina shirt had drawn attention from supporters around the world.
The farewell setting gave the match added importance, and the pre-game tribute became one of the moments captured and shared from the occasion.
For D’Almeida, the presentation offered a chance to acknowledge Messi before competing against him.
The gift’s design drew on Benin’s history and cultural identity, making the gesture more than a routine exchange between opposing captains.
It was a symbolic welcome and a recognition of the Argentine forward’s standing in the sport.
The post drew attention to the moment ahead of kickoff, when the focus was still on the ceremony and the two teams’ preparations.
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