FIFA rules prevent Argentina from retiring Messi’s No. 10 shirt
Argentina’s reported plan to retire Lionel Messi’s No. 10 shirt after his international retirement has been blocked by FIFA squad-number rules. The number must remain available at international final tournaments, while coach Lionel Scaloni has yet to decide who will wear it after Messi’s farewell appearance.
FIFA regulations have prevented Argentina from permanently retiring the No. 10 shirt worn by Lionel Messi, according to reports cited by GOAL.com. The Argentine Football Association reportedly wanted to withdraw the number after Messi’s retirement from international football.
However, FIFA rules require teams at international final tournaments to use squad numbers from 1 to 26. The regulation means Argentina must retain the No. 10 shirt for future competitions.
Liberia faced a similar issue after retiring the No. 14 shirt in honour of former striker and president George Weah. The number later had to be used during the country’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
Messi announced on August 31 that he would retire from international football after more than two decades with Argentina. He is expected to make a farewell appearance before the Argentine public on October 6, when Argentina faces Benin in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The Inter Miami forward has made 207 international appearances and scored 125 goals.
He wore the No. 10 shirt for much of his international career. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has not decided who will inherit the number.
ESPN quoted him as saying the team was not required to assign it for upcoming matches and would wait until after Messi’s farewell appearance. ESPN Argentina reporter Federico Bueno said Nico Paz was the leading candidate if Scaloni extends his contract. Paz, 22, is an attacking midfielder who previously played for Real Madrid before joining Italian club Como permanently for €60m.
He has made 11 appearances for Argentina and scored once.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.