High-profile international exhibition matches are expected to balance formal competition with mutual sporting respect off the pitch, especially when they are organised for landmark occasions.

Sparking widespread debate across international football news, Benin manager Gernot Rohr called out Argentina following the Lionel Messi farewell game, revealing his squad was denied shirts or photos.

The Franco-German tactician was unhappy that his side was completely excluded from the fanfare, despite travelling thousands of miles to serve as the opposition for Messi's final international match.

The Beninoise players were prevented by stadium security from exchanging jerseys or capturing souvenir photographs with Messi and his teammates.

"They Gave Us Nothing": Gernot Rohr Outlines Post-Match Disappointment

Benin Republic head coach Gernot Rohr fielded his best XI in the friendly against Argentina, in which Messi dazzled for one last time in an Argentina shirt.

Rohr did not hold back when detailing the treatment his squad received following their 3–0 international friendly defeat against the South American champions.

In an interview with RMC Sport, he revealed that his players were not allowed to join in the celebration despite their best efforts.

“My players tried everything, but nothing worked. The Argentinians didn’t give our players anything, not even a photo with Messi.

We wanted to exchange shirts, but we didn’t get any. They wouldn’t even allow us to enter their player corridor. Security was turning everyone away. Players were coming with their shirts hoping to swap them with Argentina players," he said (via The Athletic).

Messi scored a penalty and supplied two assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz in his final appearance for La Albiceleste.

How Messi's Farewell Went: Security Restrictions and the Scaloni Intervention

Lionel Messi's farewell began with his receipt of the official certificate bestowing him with an honoraary doctorate degree from the University of Buenos Aires hours before the game.

Wearing a specially-made kit specifically for the game, Argentina's players took to the field at the Monumental Stadium to face Benin Republic.

Before kick-off, Benin captain Sessi D'Almeida presented Messi with a gift, a miniature Agojie Amazon statue, as well as a squad-signed letter and flowers.

In the 10th minute, the game was stopped for applause for Messi, at which point he exchanged handshakes and brief hugs with the Beninoise players on the pitch.

At the final whistle, a number of Benin players and officials approached the 39-year-old, but he appeared to shrug them off while he looked forward to the commencement of the post-match ceremony with his family.

The West Africans exited the pitch while the ceremony took place, and the Argentina players remained on the pitch.

The players themselves will have been unwilling to exchange shirts with their Beninoise counterparts, seeing as the jerseys for the game were limited edition shirts.

While post-match access was heavily restricted by security protocols surrounding Messi’s emotional final home appearance for La Albiceleste, Rohr himself managed to obtain a single autograph.

The former Nigeria manager brought a match-worn 2018 World Cup Messi shirt in his personal possession and handed it to Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni, who signed it for him.

Nevertheless, Rohr maintained that the wider squad deserved basic sportsmanship and a organized photo opportunity, pointing out that smaller nations should not be treated merely as backdrop scenery during major farewell spectacles.