Argentina: FIFA prevents the permanent retirement of Lionel Messi’s No. 10 shirt

Argentina will not be able to permanently retire the No. 10 shirt worn by Lionel Messi in FIFA competitions. The governing body’s regulations require numbers to be assigned to players registered for its tournaments.

The principle had already applied to Argentina after Diego Maradona’s retirement. In tribute to their former captain, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) had decided not to assign the No. 10 shirt to its national teams outside FIFA competitions. However, numbering was mandatory in those tournaments, preventing the shirt from being retired.

The Diego Maradona precedent

After Maradona’s retirement, the AFA therefore chose to leave the No. 10 shirt vacant in certain matches played outside FIFA competitions. International regulations did not allow this decision to be applied at a World Cup.

At the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan, Argentina notably had Ariel Ortega in their squad. FIFA recalls that 23 players had been called up by Marcelo Bielsa for that edition.

The same principle applies to Messi’s number. Argentina can decide not to assign No. 10 in certain matches played outside FIFA competitions, but it cannot leave it permanently vacant in a tournament governed by the body’s regulations.

Read also: Argentina: the lovely gift awaiting Lionel Messi for his final match

Messi still wore No. 10 at the 2026 World Cup

The situation was confirmed again at the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Messi was included in Argentina’s squad with the No. 10 shirt, in accordance with the official numbering of the 26 players.

Messi has since announced his international retirement on August 31, 2026, after playing in the 2026 World Cup final with Argentina.

Albiceleste’s No. 10 can therefore remain associated with Messi’s legacy, but it cannot be officially retired at a future FIFA competition as long as the numbering rules require it to be assigned.

Nouya M'toama

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Versatile journalist specializing in sports and political news, with extensive experience across radio, print and digital media platforms.

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