Argentina’s hopes of permanently retiring Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt have been blocked by FIFA regulations, meaning the number will have to remain available for future international competitions.
The Argentine Football Association reportedly wanted to retire the famous shirt as a lasting tribute to Messi following his decision to bring his international career to an end after more than two decades representing the national team.
However, FIFA’s regulations on squad numbering make such a move impossible during major international tournaments.
Messi has worn Argentina’s No. 10 shirt for much of his international career and has transformed it into one of the most recognisable numbers in world football. His association with the shirt has stretched across multiple World Cups, Copa América tournaments and other international competitions.
FIFA’s regulations require teams competing in major international tournaments to use a consecutive numbering system for their squads. With tournament squads consisting of a fixed number of players, national teams cannot simply remove a number from the sequence in honour of a former player.
The situation is not new for Argentina.
The country previously faced a similar problem when it considered retiring the No. 10 shirt in honour of Diego Maradona. FIFA did not permit the number to be permanently removed from Argentina’s tournament squad numbering, meaning another player eventually had to wear the famous shirt.
Argentina now finds itself in a comparable position following Messi’s international retirement.
The 39-year-old forward announced on August 31 that he would end his international career after more than 20 years with the Albiceleste. His final appearance for Argentina is expected to come in a farewell match against Benin on October 6 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Messi leaves the national team with a remarkable international record. He has made 207 appearances for Argentina and scored 125 goals, numbers that underline his extraordinary contribution to the national side.
His international career also includes some of the biggest achievements in Argentine football. Messi captained Argentina to Copa América glory, won the Finalissima and finally lifted the FIFA World Cup in 2022 after years of near misses with the national team.
The Argentine Football Association recently paid tribute to Messi, describing his international career as part of the country’s identity and highlighting his achievements as player, captain and leader. The AFA also acknowledged the special connection between Messi and the No. 10 shirt.
Argentina’s current head coach, Lionel Scaloni, has also addressed the future of the number. He indicated that the No. 10 would not be handed to another player immediately during Messi’s farewell period, but that the shirt would eventually have to be assigned again.
That means the shirt’s immediate future remains a subject of interest as Argentina begins preparing for life without its long-time captain.
The No. 10 has a particularly significant history in Argentine football. Before Messi, the shirt was famously worn by Maradona, who became one of the greatest players in football history while wearing it. Maradona led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986, while Messi eventually matched that achievement with the 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar.
The connection between the two legends has made Argentina’s No. 10 more than simply a squad number. It has become associated with creativity, leadership and some of the country’s greatest footballing moments.
Despite FIFA’s tournament regulations, Argentina may still have some flexibility in friendly matches. Reports indicate that national teams can have greater freedom over squad numbering in non-competitive fixtures, meaning Argentina could potentially choose not to allocate the No. 10 during certain friendlies. However, the number must remain available when FIFA tournament regulations apply.
For Argentina, the situation represents another chapter in the transition following Messi’s departure from international football.
The No. 10 shirt will eventually belong to another Argentine player, but whoever receives it will inherit one of the most heavily symbolic shirts in international football.
Messi’s departure therefore does not mean the end of Argentina’s No. 10. Instead, FIFA’s regulations ensure that the number remains part of the national team’s future, even after the player who made it synonymous with his name has stepped away.
