BUENOS AIRES — Lionel Messi has arrived in Argentina ahead of his final appearance for the national team, with the World Cup-winning captain set to receive a farewell at home against Benin next week.

Messi landed in his hometown of Rosario on Friday after travelling from Miami on a private jet with his family. The 39-year-old is scheduled to play against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday in what is expected to be his final match in Argentina’s colours.

The Argentine Football Association said the occasion is intended to give Messi “the best player in the world” the home send-off he deserves after a remarkable international career.

Messi announced his international retirement on Aug. 31, bringing an end to a 21-year career with Argentina. He leaves the national team after winning the 2022 World Cup and establishing himself as the country’s all-time leading scorer with 125 goals.

The farewell match will also bring together several members of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad. However, Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will miss the occasion after their club, AS Roma, declined to release them.

Messi will not feature in Argentina’s other matches during the current international window. Argentina defeated Bolivia 4-0 on Wednesday and are scheduled to face Burkina Faso on Saturday.

The Burkina Faso fixture, however, has been thrown into doubt after the African side experienced travel problems. Their charter flight from Morocco, where the team had played two Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches, was scheduled to depart on Sept. 30 but was cancelled.

The Burkina Faso federation said its sports ministry, football federation and embassy were working to find an alternative travel arrangement. The federation also acknowledged that the delays had raised concerns among the players because of the limited time available for the journey to Buenos Aires.

For Messi, the focus remains on Tuesday’s farewell.

His international career has included three World Cup final appearances, with Argentina winning the 2022 tournament after losing to Germany in 2014. Argentina also reached another final against Spain this year, but were beaten.

The match against Benin will therefore mark the closing chapter of one of the longest and most decorated international careers in Argentina’s history. After more than two decades representing the national team, Messi will have the opportunity to say goodbye to supporters on home soil alongside several of the teammates with whom he lifted the World Cup in Qatar.