PSL keeper’s Messi match-up: I never imagined this against Messi
by Lovemore Moyo · KickOffKruger United goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou has disclosed his feelings about playing in Lionel Messi’s farewell match.
The last match that Messi will play for Argentina will be against Benin with Dandjinou in goals for the West Africans on October 6 at the Estadio Monumental – the home of River Plate.
Benin have somehow been fortunate enough to secure a friendly match against the three-time world champions which will double up as Messi’s last match in the famous sky blue and white.
Dandjinou makes the cut
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Thursday evening came with the final selection of the Benin squad travelling to Buenos Aires where cameras will flash constantly in creating memories.
Messi (39) recently announced his retirement from international football, but Argentina Football Association (AFA) president Claudio Tapia has convinced him to play one more time (against Benin) and add to his 207 caps.
"We grew up watching Messi play and now to get to be on the same pitch with him will be an incredible moment," Dandjinou tells KickOff.com.
"This is amazing.
"I never imagined this against Messi.
"I never imagined that it would happen that after watching the king of football on television all these years I will get to play against him in this special game as he retires.
"Who would ever imagined that Benin will play against Argentina in Messi’s last game," the keeper said, again describing the occasion as amazing.
No friendly at national level
"This will be a great experience, but we also have a country to defend so when the game starts, we will forget about Messi and think about football.
"There is no friendly game at national team level so this will be a powerful moment," says Dandjinou.
Messi will then focus on his club career with Inter Miami where his 100th goal won the club the 2026 Campeones Cup early Friday.
Dandjinou has been the first choice for Benin for the past three years during which he has won 23 caps under veteran gaffer Gernot Rohr.
At club level, he has played four of the six matches for Kruger this season enjoying the edge ahead of Fiacre Ntwari who has played twice.
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He made his top league debut against Kaizer Chiefs in the first match of the season five-and-a-half years since he arrived in South Africa from Benin.
Dandjinou spent four-and-half years at modest JDR Stars in the Motsepe Championship after his agent Michel Sinha influenced his move before joining Kruger just over a year ago as they began their promotion season.
He was the first choice through that campaign and was the only keeper from the Motsepe Foundation Championship at the AFCON finals earlier this year.