FIFA Regulations Stop Argentina From Retiring Messi’s No. 10

FIFA regulations have blocked Argentina’s reported plan to permanently retire Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt following his decision to step away from international football. According to GOAL.com, the Argentine Football Association wanted to retire the number as a tribute to the country’s most decorated player, who announced on August 31 that he would end his international career after more than two decades with the national team. Messi, who has made 207 appearances for Argentina and scored 125 goals, is expected to make his farewell appearance before the Argentine public on October 6 when the World Cup holders face Benin in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. However, FIFA regulations require teams competing in international final tournaments to use squad numbers from 1 to 26, meaning Argentina cannot permanently remove the No. 10 from its squad. Liberia faced a similar situation after retiring the No. 14 shirt in honour of former striker and president George Weah, only for FIFA regulations to require the number to be used during the country’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has yet to decide who will eventually take over Messi’s famous shirt. ESPN quoted Scaloni as saying the team is not required to assign the number for its immediate matches and that it would remain unassigned until after Messi’s farewell game. Meanwhile, ESPN Argentina reporter Federico Bueno said Nico Paz is the leading candidate to inherit the shirt if Scaloni extends his contract as head coach. Bueno reported that the decision had already been made internally. Paz, 22, is an attacking midfielder who came through Real Madrid before joining Italian club Como permanently for a reported €60 million last summer. He has so far made 11 appearances for Argentina and scored once.

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