Argentina leave Messi’s No. 10 vacant for friendlies

Lionel Messi. Credit: BBC

Argentina will not assign Lionel Messi’s iconic number 10 shirt to any player during their November international friendlies following the former captain’s retirement from the national team.

According to Argentine sports outlet TyC Sports, the decision was made by Head coach Lionel Scaloni.

This means the legendary shirt worn by Messi for almost two decades will remain unassigned during the upcoming FIFA international break.

Argentina will face Uruguay on November 13 at La Bombonera before taking on Costa Rica on November 17 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.

TyC Sports explained that FIFA friendly matches do not require teams to assign shirt numbers consecutively from one to 11, allowing Scaloni to leave the number vacant until the South American qualifiers resume in 2027.

Attention has already turned to who could inherit the shirt, with Como midfielder Nico Paz emerging as the leading contender.

The 22-year-old has impressed with his performances for the Italian club and the national team, scoring in each of Argentina’s three recent friendlies against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin.

His teammate, Valentín Barco, has also backed him to take over Messi’s famous number.

“I like everything about Nico’s game. I really like how he plays. I hope he gets the number 10, I’d love that,” Barco said.

However, Paz is not the only player being considered for the iconic shirt.

Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández are also among the potential candidates.

Messi’s departure marks the end of an era for Argentina, having represented the country for more than two decades and established himself as its most celebrated footballer.

The 39-year-old announced his retirement from international football on August 31, 2026, following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

He subsequently made a farewell appearance against Benin on October 6 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, scoring in Argentina’s 3-0 victory.

The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward finished his international career with Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024.

Although he has retired from international football, Messi continues his club career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.