Argentina face Benin in a sold-out, high-profile friendly on Saturday, 6 October 2026, with Lionel Messi set to make his farewell appearance for the national team.
The match, scheduled for 23:00 GMT, offers the World Cup runners-up a chance to build on an impressive start to the international window. Cameroonian sports journalist and betting expert Arthur Wandji has provided his predictions for the meeting.
Argentina have scored 11 goals in their past two matches, beating Bolivia 4-0 before a 7-0 victory against Burkina Faso. Messi is expected to win his 208th cap for the Albiceleste and will hope to mark the occasion with another attacking display.
Argentina’s captain holds his country’s records for both appearances and goals. However, they will be without suspended defenders Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes.
Benin arrive with a stronger recent record than the scale of the challenge might suggest. The Guepards have gone three matches unbeaten, including a 2-1 win over Mauritania and a 1-1 draw with Burkina Faso. They nevertheless face one of the world’s leading sides and will also be without the injured Steve Mounie.
Aiyegun Tosin and Rodolfo Aloko are expected to carry much of the attacking threat for Benin, who have scored in each of their past five matches. Argentina’s recent firepower, however, is underlined by their 11 goals across their last two games.
Recent form
Argentina: V/V/D/V/V Benin: V/N/D/N/V
Benin are unbeaten in four of their past five matches, while both halves have contained at least one goal in each of their last four fixtures. Argentina have recorded two emphatic wins during this international window, scoring four against Bolivia and seven against Burkina Faso.
The main statistical betting options are Argentina to win and produce more than 3.5 goals at 1.77, Argentina to score in both halves at 1.52, and more than 1.5 goals in the first half at 1.88. Other options include Argentina to score more than 2.5 goals at 1.25 and Argentina to win without conceding at 1.28.
Wandji’s first prediction is an Argentina victory in a match featuring at least four goals, priced at 1.77. Benin may offer greater defensive resistance than Argentina’s previous opponents, but they have conceded an average of two goals in each of their last four matches. Messi’s return, the significance of his farewell and the occasion’s focus on him all support that selection.
The second tip is for Argentina to score in both halves at 1.52. Lautaro Martinez scored in the 19th minute against Bolivia, with Nicolas Paz adding a second in the 29th, while Argentina led Burkina Faso 5-0 at half-time. Their attacking depth should allow them to remain dangerous after substitutions.
The final recommendation is more than 1.5 goals before half-time at 1.88. Argentina scored twice before the interval against Bolivia and five times before the break against Burkina Faso. Benin conceded the opening goal before half-time against Burkina Faso, and each of their last five matches has featured a first-half goal.
Odds may change.