Argentina will not be able to permanently retire Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt because of FIFA regulations governing squad numbers at international tournaments.
The Argentine Football Association had reportedly planned to retire the number after Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31, ending a more than two-decade career with the national team.
However, FIFA rules require teams at international final tournaments to use squad numbers from 1 to 26, meaning Argentina must keep the No. 10 available.
The same regulation previously affected Liberia after the country retired the No. 14 shirt in honour of former striker and president George Weah. FIFA subsequently required Liberia to use the number during its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Messi, who has made 207 appearances for Argentina and scored 125 goals, is expected to make his farewell appearance before the Argentine public on October 6 when Argentina face Benin in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has not yet decided who will inherit the shirt.
“We are not obliged to assign it for the upcoming matches, so we will give it to no one until after Leo’s farewell match. We just have not yet decided who,” Scaloni was quoted as saying by ESPN.
However, ESPN Argentina reporter Federico Bueno said Nico Paz is expected to take the shirt if Scaloni extends his contract as head coach.
“If Scaloni extends his contract as Argentina head coach, then Nico Paz will be the new number 10. That has been decided internally,” Bueno said.
Paz, 22, has made 11 appearances for Argentina and scored once. The attacking midfielder previously played for Real Madrid before completing a permanent move to Italian club Como for €60m.
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