Benin national team goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou referred to the friendly his team will play this Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. at the Monumental stadium against Argentina, in what is presented as Lionel Messi’s last match wearing the albiceleste shirt. His statements were published by the Spanish newspaper Marca and reproduced by the Argentine media outlets La Nación and La Derecha Diario.
What the goalkeeper said about Messi and the match
According to La Nación, Dandjinou is 28 years old and plays for Kruger United in the South African Premier Division. The goalkeeper stated: «It’s not like any other. I think it’s something that happens only once in our career, because it’s Messi’s last match.» He added: «We’re here for Argentina and for Messi, although we must not forget that we also represent our country.»
Asked whether he would let in a penalty in the last minute so that Messi could retire with another achievement, he replied: «No, no. I’m a goalkeeper and I’m there to save. Even if it’s the last minute and there’s a penalty, if Messi takes it, I’ll try to stop it.» The phrase that gives La Derecha Diario’s coverage its title is: «If he wants to score, he’ll have to do everything possible to get it.»
The goalkeeper also praised the Argentine captain: «For me, he’s one of the kings of football. We’ve grown up watching him play. He’s one of our favorite players.» And he added: «For me, Leo is a legend, a true legend.»
On the possibility of keeping Messi’s shirt, Dandjinou said: «If you ask anyone on my team, they all want his shirt.» And he closed: «It will be a huge pride to play, and that memory will be forever in my memory.»
What each source establishes and what it does not
La Nación is the only one of the three sources that identifies the original outlet of the interview: the Spanish newspaper Marca. It also provides the goalkeeper’s age, his club and the textual quote about the penalty. La Derecha Diario, on the other hand, reproduces the title and the subhead with the warning, but does not include the name of the outlet where the interview took place or the player’s age or club. Neither of the two Argentine sources indicates having spoken directly with Dandjinou.
The third source provided, the Ministry of Economy, has no relation to the match or to the goalkeeper’s statements. It is an official statement about modifications to the Fiscal Innocence Bill, with statements from Minister Luis Caputo. Its inclusion in the material does not provide data about the friendly.
What is not confirmed
Neither La Nación nor La Derecha Diario independently confirms that Tuesday’s match is indeed Messi’s last with the Argentine national team. Both present it as a fact, but do not cite an official source from the AFA, the player or the match organizers to ratify it. There is also no confirmation about the venue, time or ticket sales in the material provided.
There is no data on the match result, the lineup of either team or the expected attendance. Nor is it reported whether Dandjinou will start.
What questions remain open
It remains to be confirmed whether the match against Benin will officially be Messi’s last with the national team. It also remains to be known whether the interview with Marca was conducted in Argentina or remotely, and whether Dandjinou will indeed play in goal. None of the sources consulted answers these questions.
Value module: source comparison
| Document | What it establishes | What it does not establish | Open questions |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Nación (secondary source) | Dandjinou’s name, age and club; textual quote about the penalty; identifies Marca as the original outlet | Does not officially confirm that it is Messi’s last match; does not indicate whether there was direct contact | Is the match confirmed as a farewell? Will Dandjinou start? |
| La Derecha Diario (secondary source) | Reproduces title and subhead with the goalkeeper’s warning | Does not mention Marca; does not provide age or club; does not cite a primary source | Where did it get the statements from? Was there an own interview? |
| Ministry of Economy (official primary source) | Changes to the Fiscal Innocence Bill; statements from Caputo | Has no relation to the match or to Dandjinou | No questions linked to the sports topic |
The only primary source in the material is the Ministry of Economy’s statement, which does not address the friendly. The two sports sources are secondary: La Nación mentions Marca as the origin of the statements, but does not reproduce the original article. La Derecha Diario does not identify the source outlet. It is not appropriate to calculate averages, percentages or conversions because the data provided do not allow it.
What is worth following
The data point to follow is the official confirmation, from the AFA or Messi’s entourage, as to whether Tuesday’s match will indeed be his last with the Argentine national team. It is also worth verifying whether Dandjinou will start and whether the original Marca article is available to compare the entirety of his statements.
Fuentes consultadas
- La Derecha Diario
- Argentina.gob.ar Fuente primaria
- LA NACION
El Sereno contrastó las fuentes enlazadas y añadió contexto, comparación o análisis documental. Las fuentes primarias están identificadas. La nota no se presenta como investigación de campo ni como entrevista propia, salvo indicación expresa.
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