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Argentina’s plan to permanently retire Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt has reportedly been blocked by FIFA regulations governing squad numbers at international tournaments.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) had reportedly considered retiring the number following Messi’s decision to bring his international career with the national team to an end.
Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31 after more than two decades representing Argentina.
The Inter Miami forward is expected to make his farewell appearance in front of the Argentine public on October 6, when Argentina face Benin in an international friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
FIFA Rules Prevent Number Retirement
Messi has made 207 appearances for Argentina and scored 125 goals, wearing the No. 10 shirt for most of his international career.
However, FIFA regulations require teams participating in international final tournaments to use squad numbers from 1 to 26.
The regulation means Argentina cannot permanently withdraw the No. 10 shirt from its squad numbers.
Liberia previously faced a similar situation after retiring the No. 14 shirt in honour of former striker and president George Weah.
FIFA regulations subsequently required Liberia to make the number available during its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Scaloni Yet To Pick Messi’s Successor
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has not yet decided who will inherit Messi’s famous shirt.
Scaloni said Argentina would not immediately have to assign the number and would wait until after Messi’s farewell match before deciding on his successor.
“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,” he said, according to ESPN.
However, ESPN Argentina reporter Federico Bueno reported that Nico Paz is the leading candidate to take over the No. 10 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, is an attacking midfielder who previously played for Real Madrid before joining Italian club Como permanently for €60 million last summer.
He has made 11 appearances for Argentina and scored one goal.
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