Messi to receive honorary doctorate before Argentina farewell

Lionel Messi is set to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) on October 6, shortly before his scheduled farewell appearance for Argentina against Benin.

UBA’s Superior Council unanimously approved the decision to confer its highest honorary distinction on the Argentina captain. The university cited Messi’s excellence, perseverance, humility and commitment to representing Argentina. 

The honorary degree, known as Doctor Honoris Causa, will be presented ahead of the farewell match at Buenos Aires’ Monumental Stadium, where Messi is expected to make his 208th and final appearance for the national team. 

Messi recently announced his retirement from international football. The Argentine Football Association arranged the October 6 friendly against Benin as a farewell to the 39-year-old after more than two decades with the national team. AFA president Claudio Tapia said the match was intended to give Messi the farewell he deserved. 

Messi has been called up by the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for a farewell appearance in an international friendly on October 6, following his retirement from international football last month. The match will be held at Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires against Benin. This event is part of Argentina's series of three home friendlies scheduled between September 21 and October 6, marking the team's first matches since the World Cup. Additional fixtures include games against Bolivia on September 30 in Cordoba, with limited stadium capacity due to FIFA sanctions stemming from World Cup incidents, and a match versus Burkina Faso on October 3 in Buenos Aires. Alongside Messi, Rodrigo De Paul and Giovani Lo Celso are also confirmed for the final match. The AFA will announce the domestic league players called up for the squad later in the week. Suspended players like Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, and Thiago Almada will miss matches due to prior disciplinary actions. The full squad features a mix of established players such as Emiliano Martinez, Julian Alvarez, and Lautaro Martinez, and emerging talents."

Messi’s international career includes two Copa América titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and appearance-maker.

UBA said the recognition is not based solely on Messi’s goals, titles or statistics. University rector Ricardo Gelpi highlighted Messi’s broader significance in Argentine popular culture and national identity, while also praising his humility and perseverance. 

The doctorate will add one of the university’s highest academic honours to Messi’s long list of sporting and public recognitions, with the ceremony scheduled on the same day as his final Argentina appearance.