Benin National Team HLV Complains They Can't Exchange Jerseys with
October 10, 2026 ·
HLV Gernot Rohr from the Benin National Team talked about his disappointment at not being able to exchange jerseys with Lionel Messi during the friendly match, which was Messi's farewell moment from the national team.
HLV Benin National Team Complains They Cannot Exchange Jerseys with
According to Vnexpress.
Background
Gernot Rohr, coach of the Benin National Team, expressed his respect for Lionel Messi, who has been an inspiration for many players, including Sessi D'Almeida. This match is not only a farewell for Messi, but also an opportunity for the Benin National Team to learn from one of the best in football history.
Why this is important
The friendly match between the Argentine National Team and the Benin National Team was an important moment, especially for Lionel Messi who announced his separation from the national team. HLV Gernot Rohr's disappointment at not being able to swap jerseys with Messi shows how precious this moment is for the Benin players, who want to honor one of world football's legends.
Main Points
- HLV Benin National Team Complains They Cannot Exchange Jerseys with.
- HLV Gernot Rohr from the Benin National Team spoke about his disappointment at not being able to exchange jerseys with Lionel Messi during the friendly match, which was Messi's farewell moment from the national team.
- HLV tuyển Benin phàn nàn vì không được đổi áo với Messi.
HLV Gernot Rohr from the Benin National Team expressed his disappointment at not being able to exchange jerseys with Lionel Messi in the friendly match against Argentina, which was a farewell moment for Messi from the national team. In an interview on the Rothen s'enflamme program on RMC Sport on October 8, Rohr said, "We are very happy to be part of history, especially with a great legend like Messi."
The match at the El Monumental stadium was an unforgettable experience for the Benin players. However, Rohr was quick to point out one unfortunate thing in the preparation for the match. "The only disappointment is that we really wanted to exchange jerseys with Messi, but were not given the opportunity at all. We didn't get anything, we couldn't even take a photo with Messi," he stressed.
"They didn't even let us into the hallway of the Argentina dressing room. The security guard blocked everyone. Some of my players had brought jerseys to exchange with the Argentina players, but all that effort was in vain," he added.
On the other hand, Rohr also talked about the beautiful moments his team had before the match. The Benin team presented Messi with several special items as a sign of respect. "My player, Sessi D'Almeida, who really idolizes Messi, gave me a red rose and a statue of an Amazon warrior as a gift. We have tried everything but it still doesn't work," he said.
Many videos and pictures from the match circulated on social media, showing Benin players trying to approach Messi to ask for photos, but to no avail. The official ESPN account also commented on this moment, "A Benin player tried to take a photo with Messi while the other two argued about who would get his jersey."
However, HLV Rohr has his own luck compared to his players. As a coach, he managed to get his colleague, Lionel Scaloni, to ask Messi to sign a jersey he had held since the 2018 World Cup. "I asked Scaloni to bring Messi's jersey that I have had since the 2018 World Cup. Scaloni took it to ask for Messi's autograph, and he gave it back to me. I had to wait about half an hour, but it didn't matter. Overall, everything was great and we had a match without pressure. The result is not the most important thing. What matters most is the experience and my young players are gaining valuable international experience before they never imagined."
Rohr has long experience in the world of football, both as a player and coach. He played for 12 years at Girondins Bordeaux until 1989 and then coached the same club until they reached the UEFA Cup final. He has also coached various clubs in France as well as national teams in Africa such as Gabon, Niger, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.
The Argentine Football Federation (AFA) also stated that all friendly matches carried out complied with FIFA regulations and met the standards of "the highest international friendly matches." However, behind it all, there is economic news which states that the African teams invited by the AFA to compete only receive very minimal compensation, or even none at all.
With the many experiences and journeys he has been through, Rohr hopes that even though he cannot exchange jerseys with Messi, his players will learn valuable lessons from this match.
What happened next
After this match, Messi will likely focus on his club career and preparations for the 2026 World Cup. Meanwhile, the Benin National Team under the direction of Gernot Rohr will probably look for ways to improve their performance in the upcoming matches, with valuable experience from the match against Argentina.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did HLV Gernot Rohr complain about?
HLV Gernot Rohr complained about not being able to swap jerseys with Lionel Messi after the friendly against Argentina.
When did Gernot Rohr express his disappointment?
Gernot Rohr expressed his disappointment in an interview on RMC Sport's Rothen s'enflamme program on October 8.
Why can't the Benin team swap jerseys with Messi?
The Benin team could not exchange jerseys with Messi because they were not given the opportunity and were prevented by security officers.
What did the Benin team do to honor Messi?
The Benin team gave several special items as a mark of respect to Messi, including red roses and a statue of the Amazon warrior from player Sessi D'Almeida.
What happens at El Monumental stadium during the match?
The match at El Monumental stadium was an unforgettable experience for the Benin players, even though they couldn't take photos or exchange jerseys with Messi.