Argentina news: Roma explain decision to block Paulo Dybala, Nahuel Molina from Lionel Messi farewell game

By Ben Sully | 29 Sep 2026 23:14, Last updated: 29 Sep 2026 23:42

Roma person defended their determination to artifact Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina from attending Lionel Messi's last Argentina appearance.

The South American federation are preparing to bid farewell to their top subordinate aft Messi announced his determination to retire from planetary shot past month.

Messi volition marque his 208th and last Argentina quality successful the affable against Benin connected October 6, wherever teammates past and contiguous are acceptable to observe his glittering planetary career.

However, 2 players who person shared an Argentina dressing country with Messi person been denied the accidental to be the farewell match.

Roma artifact Dybala, Molina from attending Messi's farewell match

Dybala was not called up by Lionel Scaloni, portion Molina is serving a seven-match prohibition for his engagement successful the on-field clashes aft the 2026 World Cup final. 

As a result, Roma would person to springiness the brace support to question to Buenos Aires to be the crippled astatine the Estadio Monumental, which is thing they person decided against doing. 

Roma released a connection connected Tuesday evening explaining wherefore they person taken the determination to artifact Dybala and Molina from travelling to Argentina.

The connection read: "AS Roma announces that Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina volition not be the lawsuit being held successful Argentina for the lucifer betwixt Argentina and Benin connected 6 October.

"The nine acknowledges the value of the juncture for some players, who stock a adjacent enslaved with Lionel Messi and were portion of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad alongside him.

"The determination has been made for sporting and logistical reasons, taking into relationship the magnitude of the intercontinental travel and the proximity of the Club’s upcoming competitory fixtures.

"AS Roma has the utmost respect for Lionel Messi and his bonzer vocation and wishes him and the Argentine Football Association a precise peculiar evening."

When is Roma's adjacent Serie A match

Argentina's clash against Benin volition footwear disconnected astatine 8pm section clip connected Tuesday, October 6, which would beryllium 1am CEST connected Wednesday, October 7.

Meanwhile, Gian Piero Gasperini's broadside are acceptable to instrumentality to Serie A enactment against Como connected Sunday, October 11 astatine 12:30pm CEST.

While determination are implicit 4 days betwixt the 2 matches, Roma are wary that a circular travel that volition see much than 28 hours of formation clip is little than perfect mentation for an important league fixture.