Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has revealed he personally pushed for next month's friendly against Benin to serve as Lionel Messi's farewell match, describing the timing as the right moment for such an emotional send off.

The 39 year old Messi announced his international retirement in late August, having already secured his place as Argentina's all time leading scorer, with the farewell fixture now scheduled for October 6 at Buenos Aires' Monumental Stadium.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Scaloni revealed he had personally lobbied for the tribute to take place during this particular window, uncertain whether he himself would still be in charge of the national side later on.

"I believe that a player like him deserves that. And I personally contributed my bit because I want to be at his farewell. Since today I don't know if I would be available later on, we made an effort so that he could be in this match," Scaloni said.

He explained that despite everything Messi had been through following Argentina's runners up finish at the World Cup, the forward had shown genuine enthusiasm about the prospect of saying goodbye properly to Argentine supporters.

"We knew everything he was going through, and yet he put in the desire and effort to come and say goodbye with his people, with the people who love him so much," Scaloni said.

He stressed that delaying the farewell risked diminishing its significance, arguing that the current moment offered the purest opportunity for fans to express their appreciation for Messi's contribution to the national team.

"If there's a tribute to be made, it should be done now, because later on, the magic might not be the same. I believe now is the time for him to feel that love from everyone," he said, explaining his reasoning behind pushing for this particular date.

Messi's farewell will also double as a send off for defender Nicolas Otamendi, who has been specifically included in the squad list for the occasion despite having already stepped away from international duty himself earlier this year.

Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia confirmed that every member of the country's 2022 World Cup winning squad had been invited to attend the occasion, regardless of whether they feature in the current playing group.

That guest list includes World Cup winners such as Franco Armani, Gonzalo Montiel, Angel Di Maria, Paulo Dybala, Marcos Acuna and Guido Rodriguez, none of whom currently hold active places within Scaloni's squad.

Even players still serving FIFA suspensions stemming from incidents following the lost World Cup final against Spain, including Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina and Thiago Almada, will reportedly be present as part of the wider delegation.

Reflecting on his own experience working alongside Messi, Scaloni described the partnership as the defining privilege of his coaching career, insisting few players would ever match the Argentine's influence both on and off the pitch.

"For me, getting to coach him was the ultimate experience. It was a dream. There will never be anyone like him," he said.

Messi enters this year's Ballon d'Or race as a nominee, having scored eight goals across all eight matches at his sixth and final World Cup, finishing his international career with 125 goals in total, 21 of them at World Cups.

Asked whether Messi deserved to win the award outright, Scaloni offered strong backing, suggesting the numbers alone made a compelling case regardless of any other candidates being considered for the prize.

"If the award is for the best player, there's no doubt. It's already spoken for, the statistics prove it," he said, addressing Messi's claim to add a ninth Ballon d'Or to his collection later this year.

Scaloni's own future with Argentina remains unresolved, with his contract set to expire in December and no formal discussions yet held with Tapia regarding a possible extension beyond the current cycle of friendlies.

"We will talk, there is every willingness to sit down. There is certainly a desire to be here, but there are a lot of aspects we need to discuss with the president," he added.

Several current Argentina players, including new captain Cristian Romero, have publicly urged Scaloni to remain in charge, continuing an era that has already delivered a World Cup title and two Copa America triumphs since his appointment.

Argentina face Bolivia on 30 September in Cordoba, before matches against Burkina Faso on 3 October and Benin on 6 October, both staged at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.