Lionel Messi named honorary River Plate member as legendary Argentina career reaches emotional Monumental conclusion
Lionel Messi has been named an honorary member of the Argentine football club River Plate following his final international match on home soil. The ceremony took place at the Estadio Monumental, honoring his long-standing contribution to Argentine football.
Why it matters
This marks a significant symbolic milestone in the career of one of the world's most famous athletes as he nears the end of his international playing days.
Lionel Messi has received formal recognition from River Plate following his final international appearance on domestic soil against Benin. The Argentine heavyweights marked the historic occasion by presenting the iconic playmaker with club honours inside the Estadio Monumental, celebrating his enduring bond with the nation's premier football cathedral.
River's hierarchy officially inducted Messi as an honorary member of the club moments before kick-off against Benin. The private presentation took place in the Presidential Office at the Estadio Monumental alongside Stefano Di Carlo. The forward received an institutional membership card, a commemorative plaque, and a special 125th-anniversary shirt bearing his surname and the iconic No. 10.
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16 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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