Lionel Messi is set to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Buenos Aires (UBA) in recognition of his remarkable football career and his contribution to Argentina.

The university’s Superior Council unanimously approved the decision to confer the Doctor Honoris Causa, its highest honorary distinction, on the Argentina captain. UBA announced that the ceremony will take place on Tuesday, October 6, ahead of Messi’s scheduled farewell appearance for the national team at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

UBA said the honour recognises more than Messi’s achievements on the football pitch. The university highlighted qualities including excellence, perseverance, humility and ethical conduct, as well as his longstanding representation of Argentina on the international stage.

Messi has led Argentina through one of the most successful periods in the national team’s history. His major international honours include the 2021 Copa América, 2022 Finalissima, 2022 FIFA World Cup, 2024 Copa América and 2026 FIFA World Cup. The AFA also describes him as the central figure in Argentina’s recent run of international success.

The inclusion of Messi’s 2026 World Cup triumph is significant because the original report incorrectly stated that Argentina finished as runners-up at the tournament. According to the Argentine Football Association’s current official record, Argentina won the 2026 World Cup.

UBA Rector Ricardo Gelpi said the university wanted the recognition to go beyond Messi’s statistics and trophies, pointing instead to his character and his role as a representative of Argentine culture and national identity.

Vice-Rector Emiliano Yacobitti similarly described the honour as recognition of the values Messi has represented while wearing the Argentina shirt. He said the distinction was intended to acknowledge an influence that extends beyond his football career.

The honorary doctorate will come just hours before Messi is expected to make his final scheduled appearance for Argentina.

The Argentine Football Association has confirmed a friendly against Benin on October 6 at the Monumental Stadium, with the match forming part of a series of home fixtures for the national team.

The match has been arranged as a farewell for Messi following his decision to retire from international football. The AFA has described the occasion as an opportunity for supporters to celebrate the captain's long career with the national team.

The university recognition and the farewell match will therefore make October 6 a significant day in Messi’s relationship with Argentina. In addition to the formal academic honour, supporters will have the opportunity to see the national team captain take the field at the Monumental for what is expected to be his final appearance in Argentina’s colours.

The AFA has also announced a “Gracias, Leo” fan festival at the University of Buenos Aires’ Ciudad Universitaria on the same day, with supporters expected to gather for entertainment and a live screening of the Argentina-Benin match.

For UBA, the decision represents recognition of a sporting figure whose career has become closely associated with Argentina’s national identity. For Messi, it adds an academic distinction to a collection of international sporting achievements built over more than two decades.

Reporting by TalkNaijaMedia