Benin defender says no plan to stop 'God' Messi in farewell match

Benin center back Mohamed Tijani has revealed his team's entire game plan for Lionel Messi's farewell match: there isn't one.

In a blunt interview with Argentine outlet C5N, Tijani described Messi as "God" and "the best in the world" when asked what the Argentina captain means to him. The confession came as Benin's squad was caught shopping around the streets of Buenos Aires by Argentine media.

"We shouldn't mark Messi," Tijani confessed. "We are going to enjoy this match. There's no special plan to defend against Messi, we just have to enjoy this game, and that's it."

The No. 89 globally-ranked Benin side, according to the source, isn't pretending otherwise. Tijani's honesty didn't stop there — he added, laughing, "I'm going to look at him like this. Messi, you are the God. To me, he's the best in the world, like I'm telling you."

Benin's team doctor couldn't resist interrupting the interview to shout: "He's the best in the world! He's the God of football!"

A HUMOROUS ENCOUNTER

Tijani and his teammates were caught by Argentine media shopping around the streets of Buenos Aires, and he couldn't resist showing off the Albiceleste-themed yerba mate cup he bought for his kids.

The exchange, described in the source as "comedically blunt," quickly turned from souvenir shopping to the task at hand. When asked what Messi means to him, Tijani didn't mince words: "F---, he's the best in the world."

Asked how Benin planned to defend Messi in his farewell match, Tijani laughed and delivered the line that made the interview go viral: "I'm going to look at him like this. Messi, you are the God."