Argentina cannot retire Lionel Messi's No. 10 shirt

Argentina will not be able to permanently retire Lionel Messi’s No. 10 shirt for major international tournaments, despite the wish of the Argentine Football Association (AFA) to honour its greatest player in that way. The number may be left unused in friendly matches, but FIFA regulations prevent the federation from removing it from tournament squads.

Messi is set to play his final Argentina match next Tuesday at Buenos Aires’ Monumental against Benin. The 39-year-old will make his 208th and last appearance for the national team, ending an international career that included a World Cup triumph and two Copa America titles. He has worn the No. 10 since 2009, following Juan Roman Riquelme’s retirement, having previously used numbers 18 and 19.

FIFA requires teams at the World Cup and Copa America to allocate squad numbers from 1 to 26. That means Argentina must include a player wearing No. 10 in either competition, even after Messi’s departure. The shirt’s next holder will therefore inherit a number closely associated with the captain’s record-breaking international career and his major tournament success.