Lionel Scaloni has announced that Argentina’s legendary number 10 jersey will remain active even after Lionel Messi concludes his international career, although a successor for the shirt has not yet been chosen.
Following Argentina’s loss in the World Cup final to Spain last July, Messi declared that he would retire from international play.
By the end of his time with the national team, Messi will be the only player to have started in three World Cup finals, holds the record for the most appearances in FIFA World Cups (34), and is the all-time leader in goal contributions at the tournament (33 total, with 21 goals and 12 assists since 1966).
He will make his final appearance for Argentina in a farewell match against Benin on October 6 at the Estadio Monumental, marking his 208th cap for the senior team.
Before this tribute, Scaloni’s team will face Bolivia on Wednesday and Burkina Faso on Saturday, with Messi joining the team after these games.
Argentina has yet to allocate the number 10 shirt to another player, and Scaloni stated it will remain unassigned until after Messi’s farewell match.
“We are not required to assign it for these matches, so we will wait until Leo’s farewell game,” Scaloni told the press on Tuesday. “The intention is for someone to eventually wear it, as it holds special significance. We just haven’t decided who that will be yet.”
𝑓𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 pic.twitter.com/x53aNLqv3s
— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) September 19, 2026
Nico Paz, the breakout star from Como, is a frontrunner to inherit the iconic number 10, which has been worn by legends like Mario Kempes and Diego Maradona during Argentina’s World Cup victories in 1978 and 1986. Other potential candidates include Julian Alvarez, Thiago Almada, and Franco Mastantuono.
Argentina has also named Cristian Romero as their new captain, but there are still uncertainties about how the team will adapt without Messi’s influence.
Scaloni, who is in discussions about extending his contract through the 2030 World Cup, intends to utilize the coming matches for experimentation. “These matches are meant for trying new things,” he remarked. “Nevertheless, our fundamental approach remains centered on ball control. From there, we will see how we adapt.”
“We will always compete, and I am confident of that, which is why I choose to stay. We see the emerging talent and the desire to be part of this team. Not a single player declined a call-up for this window, which is encouraging,” he added. “We are poised to compete against anyone, and I have no doubt we will deliver strong performances.”
Fan Take: This news is significant for soccer enthusiasts as it marks the end of an era with Messi’s retirement while also hinting at the future of the Argentine national team. As younger talents step up, fans will be eager to see how the team’s identity evolves and who will rise to continue wearing the legendary number 10.
Source: www.soccernews.com
