FIFA Rejects Argentina’s Bid to Permanently Retire Messi’s No. 10 Shirt

Argentina will not be able to permanently retire Lionel Messi’s famous No. 10 shirt after FIFA regulations prevented the country from removing the number from its squad list for major tournaments.

According to Goal, the Argentine Football Association had planned to retire the iconic shirt in honour of Messi following his decision to bring his international career to an end after more than 20 years with the national team.

Messi, 39, announced his international retirement on August 31 and is expected to receive his farewell in front of home supporters on October 6, when Argentina play Benin in a friendly at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental.

Messi leaves international football having made 207 appearances for Argentina and scored 125 goals. He wore the No. 10 shirt for much of his career with the national team.

Under FIFA regulations, teams at international final tournaments must use squad numbers between 1 and 26. This means Argentina cannot permanently retire the No. 10, even as a tribute to its record-breaking captain.

A similar issue occurred in Liberia, where the No. 14 shirt was retired in honour of former striker and president George Weah. FIFA rules later required Liberia to use the number during its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.

Argentina will still be able to leave the No. 10 shirt unused for certain friendly matches. However, the number will have to be allocated during major international tournaments.

Scaloni has yet to decide who will inherit Messi’s iconic shirt.

“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,” Scaloni said, according to Goal.

ESPN Argentina reporter Federico Bueno, however, said Nico Paz could become the next No. 10 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, according to Goal.

Paz, 22, has made 11 appearances for Argentina and scored one goal. He previously spent time at Real Madrid before completing a permanent move to Serie A club Como.

Argentina’s No. 10 has a long history, having previously been worn by football icon Diego Maradona before Messi took over the legendary shirt.

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