Argentina Messi Special Edition 2026: Every Piece of the adidas Farewell Kit
adidas released a special-edition Argentina collection on 25 September 2026, built around the shirt Lionel Messi wears for his final Argentina match. The match jersey leads the range: a goalkeeper kit, a pre-match shirt, shorts, socks, culture wear and a pair of boots were released alongside it. This page sets out what each piece is, how the match shirt departs from Argentina’s regular home kit, and when it will be worn.
The full collection is sold at adidas stores, selected retailers and adidas.com. Argentina wear the match jersey for the friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday 6 October 2026 — Messi’s 208th and final Argentina appearance.
What was released, and when
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Collection | Argentina Messi Special Edition, made with the Argentine Football Association |
| Released | 25 September 2026 |
| Sold at | adidas stores, selected retailers and adidas.com |
| Match jersey worn in | Argentina v Benin, Tuesday 6 October 2026, Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires |
| Pieces in the range | Special-edition match jersey; goalkeeper kit; pre-match shirt; shorts; socks; culture wear; a white and gold pair of boots |
| Colourway | Sky blue and white with gold detailing, on a black crew collar and black sleeve cuffs |
Key dates
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 31 August 2026 | Messi announces his retirement from international football |
| 22 September 2026 | The shirt is teased ahead of release |
| 25 September 2026 | The Argentina Messi Special Edition collection goes on sale |
| 30 September 2026 | Argentina v Bolivia — Messi not in the squad |
| 3 October 2026 | Argentina v Burkina Faso — Messi not in the squad |
| 6 October 2026 | Argentina v Benin — the shirt is worn, Messi’s 208th and final cap |
The match jersey, element by element
Argentina’s shirts are built on vertical stripes. This one takes the layout of the national flag instead: a single wide white stripe down the centre of a sky blue base, with the Sun of May drawn over the whole torso in tonal line work. The traditional sky blue and white is then finished in gold, and the maker’s performance logo is replaced on the right chest by Messi’s own signature ‘M’ mark, set opposite the crest.
Blank, or with the gold Messi 10
The special-edition shirt is listed with three name and number options — the gold Messi 10, a name of your own, or blank — and the blank shirt is also listed on its own. The blank carries no name and no number, so the Sun of May artwork and the gold crest stand on their own. The numbered version adds the gold No. 10 with the sun and laurel branches across the upper back. All of them come in men’s, women’s and kids’ fits, and one option prints the name you choose in the same gold lettering.
| Element | What the special edition does |
|---|---|
| Body | One wide white stripe down the centre of a sky blue base, copying the layout of the national flag rather than a run of narrow stripes |
| Torso graphic | A tonal Sun of May in line work, spanning the front and back of the shirt |
| Chest mark | Messi’s personal ‘M’ signature logo in metallic gold, in the place usually taken by the maker’s performance logo |
| Crest | The Argentine Football Association crest with three stars above it, finished in gold |
| Name and number | Gold with a black outline, using the 2026 tournament number font |
| Collar and cuffs | Black crew collar and black sleeve cuffs, each finished with a gold edge |
| Sleeves | Sky blue raglan sleeves, with the white shoulder stripes retained |
| Back sign-off | A gold Sun of May framing the No. 10 between laurel branches, sitting below the rear collar |
| Numbering | Messi’s No. 10 printed front and back in gold |
For comparison, Argentina’s regular 2026 home shirt keeps the usual run of narrow sky blue and white stripes, the standard chest logo and the standard trim. The special edition is a separate design made for this one match, not the shirt worn through the World Cup.
The Sun of May, and why it is on this shirt
The Sun of May — the Sol de Mayo — is one of Argentina’s national symbols, taken from the May Revolution of 1810. It sits at the centre of the national flag, and it has appeared on Argentine coinage since the early 1800s. On this shirt it is used twice: once as the tonal sunburst spreading across the front and back of the torso, and again in gold around the No. 10 on the upper back, framed by laurel branches. Both readings point the same way — the country’s oldest symbol paired with the number that defined a career.
What the match shirt is built with
The commemorative design borrows nothing from the performance side: it is the same match-level construction Argentina wear in competitive fixtures, developed for high-intensity football in warm conditions.
| Area | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Engineered stretch knit, built with 3D body mapping |
| Ventilation | CLIMACOOL+ technology for airflow and moisture management |
| Panels | Perforated three-stripe panels running through the shirt |
| Mesh | Mesh zones placed at the points that build heat fastest |
| Purpose | To keep the shirt dry and the airflow moving through 90 minutes in high temperatures |
The rest of the collection
The match jersey is the headline, but the release is a full range: the goalkeeper kit, the warm-up top, a culture wear set, the match socks and the boots. The same flag and Sun of May language runs through all of it, so the collection reads as one set rather than a single shirt with extras bolted on. Everything below is in stock in this store now, and every card goes straight to the product page, where the size is chosen.
| Piece | Detail |
|---|---|
| Goalkeeper shirt | A dark green goalkeeper shirt carrying the same Sun of May graphic, with gold detailing on the collar, cuffs and shoulder stripes, plus matching green shorts and dark green socks |
| Pre-match shirt | A light blue and white heathered base with a Sun of May radiating from the centre of the chest, solid light blue raglan sleeves and collar, and gold logos |
| Shorts | Black shorts with white stripes, light blue and gold trim, and Messi’s mark on the back of the left leg |
| Socks | White socks with light blue cuffs and gold logos |
| Culture wear | The flag and Sun of May graphics translated onto everyday pieces |
| Boots | A white and gold pair made for the occasion |
Goalkeeper shirt
The goalkeeper shirt keeps the Sun of May layout and switches the base to a teal green, with the collar, the cuffs and the crest picked out in royal blue and a gold FIFA World Champions badge on the chest.
Pre-match shirt
The pre-match shirt is the warm-up top, cut from a pale sky blue that fades into white, with the sunburst radiating out from the crest at the centre of the chest.
Culture wear
The collection is not only match kit. The AFA crest and the three stripes carry over onto everyday shapes, and the track jacket and the track pants are the two pieces of that range. They are sold separately, so you can take either on its own or as a set.
Socks, shorts and boots
The socks worn with the farewell shirt, white with sky blue bands and gold detail, and the white boots released with the same drop. Neither comes with the shirt — both are listed on their own.
Sizes, fits and price
The match shirt is listed in three fits, each with the same three name and number options. The option and the size are chosen separately on the product page, because every combination is a different line in the size run.
| Fit | Sizes | Name and number | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s | S, M, L, XL, XXL, XXXL | MESSI 10 / Blank / Your Name | €45.11 |
| Women’s | XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL | MESSI 10 / Blank / Your Name | €45.11 |
| Youth | 3–4 to 13–14 years | MESSI 10 / Blank / Your Name | €45.11 |
The match it will be worn at
The collection was created for a single fixture, and the shirt is only worn once.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Fixture | Argentina v Benin — international friendly |
| Date | Tuesday 6 October 2026 |
| Venue | Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires |
| Kick-off | 20:00 UTC / 17:00 in Buenos Aires |
| Messi | 208th and final Argentina appearance |
| Argentina’s window | Argentina v Bolivia (30 September), Argentina v Burkina Faso (3 October), Argentina v Benin (6 October) |
Argentina v Benin: date, kick-off time in every time zone, and Argentina’s full October schedule
Frequently asked questions
When did the Argentina Messi special edition go on sale?
The collection went on sale on 25 September 2026, sold at adidas stores, selected retailers and on adidas.com. It was built around the shirt Argentina will wear for Lionel Messi's final match.
Which match is the 2026 Argentina special edition shirt worn in?
Argentina wear it for the friendly against Benin on Tuesday 6 October 2026 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. It is Messi's 208th and final appearance for Argentina.
How does it differ from Argentina's normal home shirt?
Argentina's regular 2026 home shirt keeps the usual run of narrow sky blue and white vertical stripes and the standard chest logo. The special edition replaces the stripes with a single wide white stripe down the centre of a sky blue base, lays a tonal Sun of May across the front and back of the torso, swaps the maker's logo for Messi's own 'M' signature mark in metallic gold, finishes the crest and the name and number in gold, and uses a black crew collar and black sleeve cuffs edged in gold.
What is the Sun of May?
The Sun of May, or Sol de Mayo, is a national symbol of Argentina taken from the May Revolution of 1810. It appears on the national flag and has been used on Argentine coins since the early 1800s. On this shirt it is drawn in tonal lines across the front and back, and again in gold around the No. 10 on the upper back.
Can the shirt be ordered without Messi's name and number?
Yes. The special-edition shirt is listed with three name and number options - MESSI 10, Blank, or Your Name - so it can be bought as a plain shirt, with the gold No. 10, or personalised.
Does the Argentina No. 10 shirt get retired after the farewell match?
No decision to retire the No. 10 has been announced. Argentina have retired the No. 10 shirt once before, for Diego Maradona's 2010 farewell request, but the number returned to the squad afterwards.