The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has run into a bureaucratic brick wall in its quest to immortalize Lionel Messi’s legacy. Despite a passionate campaign to permanently retire the iconic No. 10 jersey once the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner hangs up his boots, current FIFA regulations make the tribute practically impossible.
AFA President Claudio Tapia had previously made a bold declaration to honor the national hero: “When Messi retires from the national team, we will not allow anyone else to wear the number 10 after him. This number ’10’ will be retired for life in his honour”.
However, international football’s governing body is refusing to bend the rules, even for arguably the greatest player of all time.
📜 The 1 to 26 Rule
The core of the issue lies in FIFA’s strict squad-numbering mandate for major international tournaments like the World Cup and the Copa América. Under current regulations, teams must submit an unbroken numerical sequence for their final squads—typically ranging from 1 to 26.
This leaves zero room for skipped digits or empty shirts. If Argentina were to permanently retire the No. 10, they would be forced to enter major tournaments with only 25 players on the roster—a competitive disadvantage no nation can afford.
⏪ A Familiar Roadblock
For Argentina, this is history repeating itself. Ahead of the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, the AFA attempted the exact same maneuver to honor Diego Maradona. FIFA summarily rejected the request, and the No. 10 was ultimately assigned to Ariel Ortega.
A similar situation occurred with Liberia, who attempted to retire the No. 14 shirt to honor their legendary striker and former president, George Weah. FIFA intervened, forcing the nation to reissue the number during their 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
🛡️ The Loophole and the Heir Apparent
While a permanent, universal retirement is off the table, Argentina does have a minor workaround. Manager Lionel Scaloni has indicated the jersey will be kept vacant during upcoming international friendlies as a gesture of respect. “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,” Scaloni confirmed. Messi’s farewell is tentatively expected to be a friendly match, potentially against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Once the inevitable day arrives and a major tournament beckons, someone will have to shoulder the heaviest shirt in world football. Early reports suggest Nico Paz is a leading candidate to inherit the No. 10, though established talents like Alexis Mac Allister and Thiago Almada remain heavily in the conversation.
For now, the No. 10 belongs strictly to Messi. But when he finally steps away after 207 appearances and 125 international goals, FIFA’s rulebook guarantees that another Argentine will eventually have to fill those impossibly large shoes.
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