FIFA regulations have reportedly prevented the Argentine Football Association from permanently retiring the iconic No. 10 shirt worn by Lionel Messi during his international career.
The development followed plans by the Argentine FA to withdraw the number from circulation as a tribute to Messi after the Inter Miami forward announced his retirement from international football.
Messi, who has represented Argentina 207 times and scored 125 goals, announced on August 31 that he would bring his international career to an end after more than two decades with the national team.
He is expected to receive a farewell before the Argentine supporters on October 6 when Argentina host Benin in an international friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
However, FIFA rules governing squad numbers at international final tournaments require participating teams to use numbers from 1 to 26, making it impossible for Argentina to permanently remove the No. 10 shirt from its squad numbers.
A similar situation reportedly occurred in Liberia after the country retired the No. 14 shirt in honour of former striker and president George Weah. FIFA regulations later required Liberia to make the number available during its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
With Messi’s departure approaching, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has yet to determine who will eventually inherit the famous shirt.
Scaloni said the number would not immediately be assigned while the team prepares for Messi’s farewell appearance.
“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,” ESPN quoted Scaloni as saying.
Meanwhile, ESPN Argentina reporter Federico Bueno reported that Como midfielder Nico Paz could become Messi’s successor in the No. 10 shirt if Scaloni remains in charge of the national team.
“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, is an attacking midfielder who came through Real Madrid before completing a reported €60m move to Italian club Como last summer.
He has made 11 appearances for Argentina and scored one goal.
