‘No Messi photo, no shirt’: Benin coach fumes over Argentina treatment
Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has hit out at the treatment his players received after Lionel Messi’s emotional Argentina farewell, claiming they were denied the chance to take photos with the superstar or swap shirts.
Argentina beat Benin 3-0 at a packed Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, with Messi marking his final appearance for his country with a goal and two assists.
But while the night was billed as a celebration of one of football’s greatest careers, Rohr said his players left disappointed after being prevented from approaching Argentina’s players following the final whistle.
Speaking to RMC Sport, the German coach said his squad had hoped to take home souvenirs from an unforgettable occasion.
“The only shame is that the Argentines gave us nothing,” Rohr said.
“No photo with Messi, no shirt. They didn’t even let us into the tunnel or the dressing room.”
The only shame is that the Argentines gave us nothing. No photo with Messi, no shirt. They didn’t even let us into the tunnel or the dressing room. Some players came to swap shirts, so we knew it would be difficult. We tried everything, but we got nothing.
Rohr claimed several Benin players had attempted to exchange shirts with Argentina’s stars, but security officials stopped them from entering the players’ area.
“Some players came to swap shirts, so we knew it would be difficult,” he said.
“We tried everything, but we got nothing.”
The Benin boss revealed that he eventually managed to secure one special souvenir of his own.
Rohr had an Argentina shirt from 2018 and handed it to Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, who arranged for Messi to sign it before returning it to him.
Despite the frustration, Rohr insisted the experience of playing at the Monumental on Messi’s farewell night remained extraordinary for his squad.
For Benin’s younger players in particular, sharing the pitch with Argentina and witnessing Messi’s final international appearance was an opportunity they were unlikely to forget.
Messi’s farewell brought the curtain down on a remarkable Argentina career spanning more than two decades. He finished with 208 international appearances and 126 goals, while helping his country win two Copa América titles and the 2022 World Cup.
On his final night, Messi assisted Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz before converting a penalty himself as Argentina secured a comfortable victory.
For Rohr, however, the result was only part of the story.
His players may have left Buenos Aires without the shirts and photographs they had hoped to collect, but the Benin coach still regarded the occasion as a memorable chapter in their international careers.
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