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Argentina’s plan to retire Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt has reportedly been blocked by FIFA regulations governing squad numbers at international tournaments.
According to reports by GOAL.com, the Argentine Football Association wanted to permanently retire the number following Messi’s decision to end his international career after more than two decades with the national team.
Messi announced on August 31 that he would retire from international football and 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.
The Inter Miami forward has made 207 appearances for Argentina and scored 125 goals, wearing the No. 10 shirt for much of his international career.
However, FIFA regulations require teams competing in international final tournaments to use squad numbers from 1 to 26, meaning Argentina cannot permanently withdraw the No. 10 shirt.
Liberia faced a similar situation after retiring the No. 14 shirt in honour of former striker and president George Weah. FIFA regulations later required the country to use the number during its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has yet to decide who will inherit Messi’s famous 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 by ESPN as saying.
However, ESPN Argentina reporter Federico Bueno reported that Como midfielder Nico Paz is the leading candidate to take over the shirt if Scaloni extends his contract.
“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, came through at Real Madrid before joining Italian club Como permanently for €60m last summer.
The attacking midfielder has made 11 appearances for Argentina and scored once, putting him among the players being considered for the iconic shirt after Messi’s international farewell.
