Captain Steve Mounie is among Benin’s most prominent footballers.
The striker currently represents German Bundesliga club FC Augsburg and is also familiar to Huddersfield Town supporters after playing there from 2017 to 2020.
Although he has been a regular member of the national team for more than ten years, Mounie says he has never previously represented Benin in a match outside Africa.
Mounie said the squad did not initially realize this fixture could be Lionel Messi’s final match when the coach first contacted him.
He described that possibility as an added highlight, making an already significant occasion for Benin even more important to football fans around the world.
An injury has ruled Mounie out of the match, but he chose to travel with the squad rather than remain at home during his recovery because he did not want to miss the occasion.
He explained that although he cannot take part, he wanted to join and encourage his teammates. He also admitted that his passion for football made him determined to attend for his own enjoyment.
Mounie even covered the cost of his own flight to be there.
While he would rather watch from the bench, he said he would happily sit in the stands if necessary, as long as he could experience the match from inside the stadium.
The former Premier League forward believes the friendly’s final score is not especially important, but the selected players will recognize it as a valuable opportunity to strengthen both their own standing and the reputation of Beninese football.
Mounie portrayed Benin as a disciplined side featuring several gifted young players with strong technical ability. He said they aim to attack and apply pressure whenever possible, while remaining united and battling together when circumstances force them to defend.
He added that Benin operates like a family and sees a similar bond within Argentina’s squad, where Messi serves as a father figure.
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