Although he conceded a penalty shot that soared into the top corner, the Kruger United keeper praised the Argentine superstar as the unrivaled “king of football.”

Messi delivered an exceptional performance at the Estadio Monumental, scoring all three goals to lead Argentina to a 3-0 victory against Benin on 7 October. In front of 80,000 enthusiastic fans, the maestro set up two goals before scoring from the penalty spot to finish his final international match.

Reflecting on the penalty moment, Dandjinou expressed that he gave his all in an attempt to thwart the icon.

“Can you imagine if I had saved that penalty? It would have been monumental for me,” Dandjinou remarked to Sportswire.

“My role is to make saves; handing him a goal isn’t an option. But he placed it flawlessly into the top corner. Even if I had guessed correctly, I don’t think I could have stopped it,” he added.

Despite traveling from afar for this historic match, Dandjinou responded to claims that the Benin team left without souvenirs or exchanged jerseys.

“They were focused on their celebration, and we were there to honor him as well. After the match, we didn’t take photos or collect memorabilia,” he explained. “That’s okay—that’s football. We can’t make them give us anything. At the end of the day, we remain professionals.”

When comparing Messi to other top forwards he has encountered, the Benin keeper was clear about the Argentine’s standing.

“I have faced African stars like Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, and Sadio Mané, but Messi is in a league of his own. He is truly unique.”

Attention Turns to AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

In addition to the excitement in Buenos Aires, Dandjinou—currently representing Betway Premiership club Kruger United—remains focused on Benin’s ambition to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Cheetahs began their qualification journey with a 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso, followed by a vital 2-1 win over Mauritania during the extended FIFA international break.