Benin defender admits there is no plan to stop Messi

Benin defender Mohamed Tijani has admitted his side have no special plan to contain Lionel Messi when they face Argentina, with the match expected to be the superstar’s final appearance for the national team.

Tijani and several Benin players were spotted shopping in the streets of Buenos Aires ahead of the match. Showing off an Argentina-themed yerba mate cup he had bought for his children, the centre-back was asked what Messi meant to him.

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“He’s the best in the world,” Tijani told Argentine outlet C5N.

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When asked how Benin, ranked 89th in the world, planned to defend Messi, Tijani offered a surprisingly honest answer.

“We shouldn’t mark Messi,” he said. “We are going to enjoy this match. There’s no special plan to defend against Messi. We just have to enjoy this game, and that’s it.”

Tijani added: “I’m going to look at him like this. Messi, you are the God. To me, he’s the best in the world.”

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The sentiment was shared by Benin’s team doctor, who interrupted the interview to declare: “He’s the best in the world! He’s the God of football!”

The match will kick off at 5:00 am Wednesday morning, Bangladesh time.