The Argentine Football Association planned to retire the iconic number 10 jersey after Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football, but FIFA tournament regulations make that permanent tribute impossible. Messi, 39, confirmed on August 31 that he is stepping down from the national team following a two-decade career, with his final appearance scheduled for October 6 in a friendly match against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Why FIFA Regulations Prevent a Permanent Number 10 Retirement
While the Argentine Football Association intended to remove the number 10 from circulation to honor Messi’s 207 caps and 125 international goals, world soccer governing body rules create an insurmountable barrier. During final tournaments and official international competitions, squad numbers from 1 to 26 must be explicitly allocated to registered players, prohibiting the permanent retirement of any number within that required range. This exact regulatory obstacle previously affected Liberia, which had retired the number 14 jersey to honor George Weah only to be forced by FIFA guidelines to reissue the number to Nicholas Andrews during 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Messi concluded his international career following the 2026 World Cup final, where Argentina finished as runners-up after a 1-0 defeat against Spain. Messi added the final chapter to an international resume that already included four major trophies: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América.
How Scaloni is Managing the Squad Without Messi
During the October 2026 international break, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni opted to keep the number 10 jersey completely vacant rather than assigning it to another player for the opening fixtures. La Albiceleste hosted Bolivia at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba on October 1, securing a 4-0 victory through goals from Lautaro Martinez, Nico Paz, Cristian Romero, and José Manuel López, as reported by Harian Disway. Messi did not feature in the match against Bolivia, as he was preserved for his farewell appearance in Buenos Aires.
“We are not obliged to give it for these upcoming matches, so we are not going to give it to anyone until after Leo’s farewell match. We just haven’t decided to whom,” Scaloni said during a pre-match press conference, as reported by ESPN Argentina and noted by tvOneNews. Scaloni utilized the fixture to experiment with tactical variations and incorporate younger talents, starting a lineup that featured Emiliano Martínez, Cristian Romero, Alexis Mac Allister, Julián Álvarez, and Lautaro Martínez.
Who is Projected to Inherit the Historic Shirt
Behind the scenes, internal discussions regarding the long-term successor to the famous jersey are already underway. According to ESPN Argentina reporter Federico Bueno, coaching staff have identified 22-year-old attacking midfielder Nico Paz as the leading candidate to wear the number 10, contingent upon Scaloni extending his contract as head manager of the national team.
Paz, a former Real Madrid midfielder who transferred permanently to Italian club Como during the summer for a reported 60 juta euro fee with an 80 juta euro buyback clause, has earned 11 caps for Argentina and scored one international goal. His growing prominence within the squad was underlined by his goal-scoring performance in the 4-0 defeat of Bolivia. Until the final whistle blows on October 6 against Benin, however, the jersey remains unoccupied, serving as a temporary bridge between the end of Messi’s historic era and the start of Argentina’s next generation.
Why Is Lionel Messi Not Playing Against Bolivia?
Why is Lionel Messi not playing in Argentina’s match against Bolivia?
Messi was excluded from the matchday squad against Bolivia on October 1, 2026, because he is scheduled for a dedicated farewell fixture against Benin on October 6 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
What trophies did Lionel Messi win with Argentina?
Messi won four major international titles with La Albiceleste: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América, before finishing as a runner-up in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain.
Which club does Nico Paz play for?
Paz plays for Italian club Como after completing a permanent transfer from Real Madrid, a deal that includes an 80 juta euro buyback clause in his contract.
Worth a look
