Retirement: What I will tell Argentina’s Lionel Messi – Benin defender, Mohamed Tijani
Benin national team defender Mohamed Tijani has expressed his sentiments about facing Argentina’s Lionel Messi during their upcoming international friendly today. The match will take place at Estadio Mâs Monumental in Buenos Aires and marks Messi’s final appearance for the Argentine national team, following his recent retirement announcement.
In comments made to Argentine media outlet MinutoUno, Tijani stated that he plans to tell Messi, “You are a god,” recognizing him as one of football’s greatest players. Tijani emphasized that although it is essential to respect Messi’s skills, his focus will be on enjoying the experience of playing against such a celebrated athlete.
“We don’t need to specifically mark Messi,” Tijani said in an interview with C5N. “We just need to enjoy the game.”
As the two teams prepare to meet, Tijani’s acknowledgment of Messi highlights the respect that players hold for one another on the international stage.
