The Argentina Football Association has announced its plans to retire Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey once he concludes his international career.
Claudio Tapia, the president of the board, made this declaration during a news conference, emphasizing that no other player will be allowed to wear the number 10 after Messi.
In a gesture of utmost respect and admiration, the number 10 will be permanently retired as a tribute to Messi’s extraordinary contributions to the sport. This decision is seen as the least the association can do to honour his remarkable legacy.
It is worth noting that Diego Maradona, another legendary player, also wore the esteemed No. 10 jersey for ‘La Albiceleste.’ The football board had initially intended to retire the shirt in Maradona’s honour back in 2002. However, FIFA regulations mandated that all players wear numbers from 1 to 23 during that year’s World Cup, preventing the Argentina Football Association from proceeding with their plans.
The decision to recognize Messi’s legacy comes on the heels of his triumph in the 2022 World Cup, which marked Argentina’s first victory since 1986, as well as their triumph in the 2021 Copa America.
To date, Lionel Messi has participated in 180 matches for Argentina, scoring an impressive 106 goals. While he has not officially retired from the national team, he will likely be present in the upcoming Copa America next summer. During this extended version of the competition, hosted in the United States, the team will aim to defend their title.
Messi acknowledges that his career is approaching its end. He cannot guarantee his participation in Argentina’s 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
“I’m not thinking about the World Cup, and I’m not saying I won’t be there because anything can happen,” he stated earlier this month in an interview. “Given my age, the most likely scenario is that I will not be present.” Then we’ll see how far it goes. Perhaps we will play well in the Copa America and then continue. Perhaps not. It’s difficult to be realistic.”
Retiring numbers is a widespread phenomenon in club football, but it has not become a way to recognize players for their national team achievements.
It is also uncertain whether FIFA rules enable the AFA to retire Messi’s number, as FIFA requires players to wear all numbers from one to 23 during official competitions.
