Messi’s number 10 legacy faces a FIFA ruling after Argentina exit

Lionel Messi’s decision to retire from international football has prompted calls in Argentina for the national team’s number 10 shirt to be withdrawn, but FIFA regulations could prevent that tribute from being made at major tournaments.

The Inter Miami forward surprised supporters on Monday by announcing that he would no longer play for Argentina. In a statement published on his Instagram account, Messi wrote: “After all this time since the final, and after a great deal of thought, I want to announce to everyone that I have decided to retire from playing for the national team.”

Attention in Argentina has now turned to the future of the famous shirt he has worn throughout his international career. Spanish newspaper Marca said the country faces the difficult task of finding a player capable of carrying the weight of the historic number.

Among the possible candidates are Nico Paz, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Thiago Almada. However, many voices in Argentina believe the number should not be given to anyone else, following the example set by Diego Maradona.

The campaign to honour Messi reflects a long-standing desire to protect the status of the shirt. Supporters want Argentina to stop using number 10 altogether as a tribute to one of the greatest players in the country’s history.

There is also evidence that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has previously considered such a move. In 2024, AFA president Claudio Tapia told Sport: “The number 10 shirt of the national team will be retired when Messi ends his international career.”

That statement appeared to make the association’s intentions clear. Yet Marca reported that retiring the shirt would not be straightforward because FIFA regulations prohibit national teams from removing shirt numbers from its competitions.

For the World Cup, FIFA requires squad numbers to run from one to 26, with no number omitted. That means Argentina’s wish to permanently retire number 10 would conflict with the rules governing the tournament. Friendly matches are treated differently, however, and national teams have more freedom over shirt numbering in those fixtures.

Argentina has already experienced a similar situation involving Maradona. On 25 September 2001, the AFA voted unanimously, following an initiative by its then-president Julio Grondona, to retire the number 10 shirt in honour of the former captain.

The decision was expected to take effect before the 2002 World Cup. Such confidence surrounded the plan that Argentine newspaper Ole published the headline: “It is God’s will.” The implication was that the shirt would no longer be worn.

FIFA ultimately blocked the move. Ariel “El Burrito” Ortega wore Argentina’s number 10 at the 2002 World Cup and became the player to use the shirt most frequently between the Maradona and Messi eras.

The same issue could now emerge again. Argentina may be unable to retire Messi’s number 10 for FIFA competitions, even if the AFA and supporters want to do so.

For friendly matches, though, the tribute may still be possible. Argentina’s planned fixtures in September and October have not yet been confirmed, but it appears likely that no player will wear number 10 if those matches go ahead. Those games could provide the first opportunity to honour Messi by leaving his iconic shirt unused.

The issue can also be discussed in greater depth on the Kooora forums.