Argentina to Leave Messi’s Famous No. 10 Shirt Unused
Argentina will not assign Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt to another player during the upcoming November international break, according to reports from TyC Sports.
The decision was reportedly made by head coach Lionel Scaloni and his technical team as the national side prepares for its first matches following Messi’s international retirement.
The Albiceleste are scheduled to face Uruguay on November 13 at La Bombonera before taking on Costa Rica on November 17 in Córdoba.
According to TyC Sports, the coaching staff intends to keep the legendary shirt number vacant throughout both friendly matches. This is possible because international friendlies do not require teams to assign every shirt number from 1 to 11.
Who Will Inherit Messi’s No. 10?
Although no successor has been officially announced, several players have emerged as possible candidates.
Como midfielder Nico Paz is among the leading names following his impressive performances for Argentina. Other potential options include Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández and young talent Franco Mastantuono, who has previously worn the number in an official match for Argentina.
The decision is expected to be made before Argentina resumes its South American World Cup qualifying campaign in 2027.
For now, Messi’s famous No. 10 will remain untouched, giving the coaching staff more time to decide who will take on the responsibility of wearing one of football’s most recognisable shirt numbers.
The upcoming friendlies will therefore mark another symbolic step in Argentina’s transition into the post-Messi era.
Discover more from Waves Times
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.