RismadarVoice Reporters
September 3, 2026
Argentina’s plan to permanently retire Lionel Messi’s famous No. 10 jersey after his international retirement has been blocked by FIFA regulations governing squad numbers in major competitions.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) had previously indicated its intention to remove the shirt from circulation as a tribute to Messi, who ended his international career after more than two decades representing the national team.
However, FIFA rules require national teams competing in tournaments such as the World Cup and Copa América to assign consecutive shirt numbers to every player in their squads, meaning Argentina cannot leave the No. 10 position permanently vacant during official competitions.
The situation mirrors Argentina’s earlier attempt to retire Diego Maradona’s No. 10 jersey. In 2001, the AFA moved to withdraw the number in honour of Maradona, but FIFA rejected the request ahead of the 2002 World Cup because of its squad-number regulations.
Messi’s No. 10 shirt became one of the most recognisable symbols in world football during his Argentina career. The forward led the country to major international titles, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Copa América triumphs, while becoming Argentina’s record goalscorer and most-capped player.
Although the number cannot be retired in FIFA-sanctioned tournaments, Argentina could choose not to use the No. 10 shirt in friendly matches as a symbolic gesture.
With Messi’s departure, the AFA now faces the challenge of deciding which player will inherit the legendary shirt whenever FIFA competitions require its use. Several emerging Argentine players have been linked with the possibility of taking over the number associated with both Messi and Maradona.
