Steve Mounie unfazed by Messi as Benin prepare for Argentina clash

Benin captain Steve Mounie has made clear he will not be overawed by Lionel Messi when Les Guepards face Argentina at Estadio Monumental on Tuesday night, saying he has never treated football’s biggest names as idols.

The 32-year-old striker is unavailable through injury but travelled with the Benin squad to Buenos Aires, where his presence is expected to give the African side a lift for their exhibition against the 2026 World Cup runners-up.

Mounie, formerly of Huddersfield Town, said his approach has always been to admire elite players without putting them above himself. He enjoys watching outstanding footballers and studying their quality, but added that he has never sought shirts from major opponents.

That does not mean the Benin skipper is dismissive of Messi’s standing. Mounie believes the 2022 World Cup winner deserves to enjoy what is set to be a significant occasion in the Argentine capital after everything he has given the game over so many years.

Benin will attempt to make life difficult for the hosts, with Mounie describing the squad as a disciplined unit despite his inability to take the field. The match offers an important measure of the team before its Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign resumes.

While in Buenos Aires, Mounie also visited La Bombonera and posted images from Boca Juniors’ stadium alongside a chant in support of the club. His own immediate task, however, is recovery: the forward is working to overcome his injury and regain his place at Augsburg.