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AS Roma player travel restrictions for Messi farewell

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2026-09-30 10:58 UTC → 2026-09-30 22:06 UTC · added ~~removed~~

AS Roma has officially denied permission for players Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina to travel to Argentina for Lionel Messi’s farewell match against Benin, scheduled for October 6 at the Estadio Monumental. Although both players received personal invitations from Messi to attend the celebration, the club cited “sporting and logistical reasons” as the primary reasons for the refusal. Specifically, officials pointed to the physical toll of long-distance intercontinental travel and the need to prepare for upcoming competitive fixtures, including a Serie A match against Como on October 11 and a Champions League game against Real Madrid on October 14. Because Dybala was not called up to the national squad and Molina is currently serving an international suspension, their presence in Buenos Aires would have been purely symbolic. In an official statement, AS Roma expressed ‘the utmost respect for Lionel Messi and his extraordinary career’ and wished the Argentine Football Association a special evening. The club further clarified that the decision was not disciplinary in nature. While Dybala and Molina are restricted, other Argentine players such as Santiago Castro and Matías Soulé have been cleared to participate in the event. Additionally, the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) has announced it will award Lionel Messi an honorary doctorate during the ceremony preceding the match, recognizing his “excellence, perseverance, and commitment to national representation.”

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