Benin goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou is relishing the opportunity to come up against Lionel Messi when the Squirrels face Argentina in the Argentine superstar’s farewell international match.
Dandjinou insists that while Benin will be part of an occasion celebrating Messi’s remarkable career, his side will not simply hand the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner a goal. The goalkeeper says his responsibility remains clear: to stop every shot that comes his way.
“If Messi wants to score, he will have to do everything possible to make it happen. I’m a goalkeeper and my job is to stop shots,” Dandjinou said.
The Benin shot stopper added that he would even back himself to deny Messi from the penalty spot in the closing stages. “Even if there is a penalty in the last minute and Messi takes it, I will try to save it,” he said, making it clear that the occasion will not change his competitive mindset.
“Yes, we are here to celebrate Messi, but nobody told us we have to gift him a goal. And knowing Messi, he doesn’t need any gifts,” Dandjinou added.
For Dandjinou, the fixture presents a rare opportunity to test himself against one of football’s greatest ever players, but he intends to approach it as a goalkeeper first and a spectator second.
