Benin Player Suspended, Misses Chance to Face Messi

Oluwaseun Adewole Verdon, a new signing for Maccabi Netanya, will miss an opportunity to play against Lionel Messi in what is expected to be the Argentine superstar's farewell match for his national team. Messi recently announced his second retirement from international football, but a friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires has been organized to give him a proper send-off.

Verdon, who has 29 caps for Benin and is a regular member of the squad, was not called up for the upcoming international window due to disciplinary reasons. In June, the Benin Football Federation announced that Verdon had been suspended from the national team for six months following violations of the team's disciplinary rules and procedures.

The federation stated that the suspension was a result of multiple breaches of discipline, non-compliance with the technical staff's instructions, and failure to uphold team conduct obligations. The decision aims to uphold the authority of the coaching staff, team cohesion, player equality, and the values of discipline and personal example.

This is not Verdon's first disciplinary issue. In 2021, he faced accusations of domestic violence from a former partner, though legal proceedings were later closed. Additionally, in 2019, he was arrested in Spain following a violent altercation in a hotel, during which he allegedly made threats against his then-girlfriend.