Roma have refused to release Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for Lionel Messi’s final Argentina game. Here’s why the club decided to keep them in Rome.
Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina will not be in Buenos Aires for Lionel Messi’s farewell with Argentina after Roma decided against allowing the two players to make the long trip during the international break. Messi’s final Argentina appearance is scheduled for October 6, when the World Cup winners face Benin at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. The Argentine Football Association invited members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad who are not part of Lionel Scaloni’s current playing group, including Dybala and Molina. Both Roma players wanted to attend the occasion, but the club has opted to keep them at Trigoria.
The decision is primarily linked to the timing of the trip. A journey from Rome to Buenos Aires and back would cover more than 22,000 kilometres, involve over 26 hours in the air, and require the players to adjust to a significant time difference. They would then have only a few days before Roma’s return to Serie A against Como on October 11.
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Why Did Roma Block The Messi Farewell Trip?
For Dybala, the invitation carried particular significance. The forward was part of Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup squad and has shared the national-team dressing room with Messi for years. The October 6 fixture is expected to mark Messi’s final appearance for Argentina after the 39-year-old announced his international retirement in August.
Molina also has a direct connection to the team that lifted the World Cup in Qatar. He started Argentina’s quarter-final victory over the Netherlands and remained part of the squad throughout the tournament. Neither player is currently involved in Argentina’s three-match schedule. Scaloni has called up Roma’s Matias Soulé, Santiago Castro, and Leonardo Balerdi, while Dybala and Molina were invited separately to attend Messi’s farewell as members of the 2022 squad. That difference is important because the proposed trip was not connected to international duty. Dybala and Molina would have travelled specifically to be present for Messi’s final Argentina match and then returned to Italy.
How Much Would The Trip Affect Roma?
The timing is the main concern for the club. Roma are scheduled to face Como away from home on October 11, just five days after Messi’s farewell at the Monumental. Reports estimate that Dybala and Molina could return to Rome on October 8 or 9, leaving little time to recover from the long flights and readjust before the match.
Roma’s schedule also becomes demanding after the Como fixture. The club is due to face Real Madrid in the Champions League on October 14, meaning the players would have another major match only three days later. That makes the club’s decision easier to understand from a squad-management perspective. Allowing two important players to cross the Atlantic for a non-competitive appearance would mean sacrificing several days of normal preparation during a short international break.
The issue has also attracted attention because Roma already have several players away with their national teams. Soulé, Castro, and Balerdi are travelling with Argentina as part of Scaloni’s squad, while several other Roma players are involved with their respective countries.
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What Does Messi’s Farewell Mean For Argentina?
Messi’s retirement brings the end of a 21-year international career that began with his Argentina debut in 2005. He leaves after winning the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa America. He also captained Argentina during their run to the 2026 World Cup final before announcing his decision to step away from international football.
The Monumental farewell is therefore being treated as a celebration of an entire generation rather than simply another friendly. The presence of former teammates and members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad is expected to be an important part of the occasion. Dybala and Molina will now have to watch from Italy.
Will Dybala And Molina Regret Missing Messi’s Last Game?
There is an obvious emotional side to Roma’s decision. Dybala and Molina were invited because of their connection to Argentina’s greatest recent success, and both had expressed a desire to be present for Messi’s final appearance. But Roma’s concern is not about the importance of the occasion. It is about what follows it.
The club needs its players ready for the return of Serie A, with Como awaiting them on October 11 before the Champions League meeting with Real Madrid three days later. Dybala and Molina will therefore remain at Trigoria and continue working with Gian Piero Gasperini instead of making the trip to Buenos Aires. For Messi, the farewell will be a night built around memories. For Roma, the priority is preparing for what comes immediately afterwards. Will Dybala and Molina’s absence from Messi’s final Argentina game become one of the most talked-about omissions from the farewell?
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