FIFA regulations have prevented Argentina from permanently retiring the iconic No. 10 shirt worn by Lionel Messi for much of his international career.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) reportedly wanted to withdraw the number from use as a tribute to Messi following his decision to end his international career after more than two decades with the national team.
However, FIFA’s squad-numbering regulations require national teams to assign numbers within the prescribed range during major international tournaments, including the World Cup. This means Argentina cannot permanently remove the No. 10 from its tournament squad list.
The country faced a similar situation in the past when it sought to retire the No. 10 in honour of Diego Maradona. FIFA rejected the request and required Argentina to make the number available for international competition.
Messi, 39, has made 207 international appearances for Argentina and scored 125 goals. He wore the No. 10 during Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign, according to FIFA’s official squad list.
The Inter Miami forward is expected to make his farewell appearance for Argentina on October 6, when the national team faces Benin in a friendly at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Although the number cannot be permanently retired for official FIFA tournaments, Argentina can leave the No. 10 unused in certain non-tournament matches where squad-number rules do not require every number to be assigned. The AFA will therefore still have options for honouring Messi’s legacy while keeping the number available for future competitive matches.
