Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has claimed his players were refused photographs with Lionel Messi and the chance to swap shirts after the 3-0 defeat in Argentina’s farewell friendly for their captain at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires on Tuesday.

Speaking on the RMC radio programme Rothen s’enflamme, the German said the evening had been demanding on the pitch and disappointing after the final whistle.

“The only shame is that the Argentines gave us nothing. No photo with Messi, no shirt,” he said.

Rohr said the restrictions went further than souvenirs.

“They didn’t even let us into the tunnel, nor even the dressing room.”

According to the coach, several of his players had set aside their own shirts in the hope of exchanging them at full time.

Security staff, he explained, turned everyone away.

“Security refused to let anyone in. Some players came to swap shirts, so we knew it would be difficult. We tried everything, but we got nothing.”

Benin had made their own gestures of respect before kick-off. Captain Sessi D’Almeida presented Messi with a statue, a rose and a handwritten letter from the squad, while Rohr said the team also offered flowers in the colours of the Benin flag.

The flowers did not land as hoped, though the coach did leave with one keepsake. He handed Messi’s 2018 shirt to Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, who had it signed by the player and returned it to him.

On the pitch, Messi bowed out in style. He converted a penalty for his 126th international goal in 208 appearances and set up Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz, taking his world record tally of international assists to 68.

Play was paused in the tenth minute so the stadium could applaud him. Messi had announced his international retirement on August 31, a little over two months after Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain in New Jersey.

Despite his complaints, Rohr said he viewed the occasion as special for his squad, many of them young players who may never share a pitch with a figure of Messi’s stature again.