In honour of Messi, Argentina's No. 10 shirt will go to no one for now, Scaloni decides

After Lionel Messi's retirement, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has decided to leave the national team's iconic No. 10 shirt vacant for now. Argentine outlet TyC Sports reported the information.

According to the report, the world champions will play two friendlies during the current November international break, against Uruguay and Costa Rica. But in neither match will any player in the team be given the No. 10 shirt.

These are Argentina's first international matches since Messi's departure from the national team. Scaloni took the decision together with the coaching staff to show deep respect for the legendary captain's illustrious career and memory.

For two long decades, Lionel Messi wore Argentina's No. 10 shirt while winning the World Cup, the Copa America and the Finalissima, among countless titles and history. On 6 October, he played his emotional international farewell match against Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, the last occasion he wore the No. 10 shirt.

Earlier, at a press conference on 29 September, Scaloni had already indicated that there was no obligation to give this shirt to anyone until Messi's farewell match was over. Scaloni mentioned at the time that because of the honour and beauty attached to the shirt, it would in future be given to a deserving player, but no decision had been rushed.

Under FIFA's existing rules, a national team cannot permanently retire or set aside a particular shirt number in competitive international tournaments. In main competitions such as the World Cup, squad players must be allocated shirts in a set numerical sequence. But as there is no such strict rule for international friendlies, the Argentine Football Association has the opportunity to leave Messi's No. 10 shirt unallocated, or vacant, in the November schedule.

According to TyC Sports, when Argentina returns to competitive international football officially again in 2027, a final decision may be taken then on the new wearer of the No. 10 shirt.

Among those currently discussed as Messi's successor are Italian club Como's young midfielder Nico Paz, Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister, Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, and young talent Franco Mastantuono, playing on loan at Fiorentina from Real Madrid. But as the decision to step into the shoes of a superstar like Messi is extremely sensitive, Scaloni is in no hurry; for now, Argentina's historic shirt remains empty.