The Argentine football federation wishes to pay a unique tribute to Lionel Messi once he retires from international football.
Like Diego Maradona before him, Lionel Messi is considered a god in Argentina. Even more so since he offered the Albiceleste the third World Cup in its history, in December 2022 against the France team (3-3, 4 tab 2), a year and a half after winning the Copa America . The Argentine football federation is also considering paying the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner an incredible tribute by retiring his number 10.
“When Messi retires internationally, we will no longer allow anyone to wear number 10 after him. It will be retired for life in his honor. It’s the least we can do for him.”, declared Claudio Tapia, president of the AFA, last Saturday at a press conference. If no longer assigning a jersey number is customary in certain sports, in the United States in particular, it is much less common in football.
Legends like Johan Cruyff (n°14, Ajax Amsterdam), Paolo Maldini (n°3, AC Milan), Javier Zanetti (n°4, Inter Milan) or even “El Pibe de Oro” (n°10, Naples) were entitled to this honor in club, but in selection, it would undoubtedly be a great first. Nothing says, moreover, that Argentina will be able to complete its project.
Messi, 2026 World Cup goal
In the past, FIFA would have already refused the AFA to withdraw Diego Maradona’s number 10. And given that the international federation still only allows jersey numbers ranging from 1 to 23 during the official competitions it organizes, there is little chance that the Albiceleste will play without number 10 in the short term.
Especially since in 2026, for the next World Cup, “la Pulga” (36 years old) could still be there… “I’m going to reach an age that normally wouldn’t allow me to compete in the World Cuphe recently told Star+. It seemed like I would retire after the last World Cup, but it’s quite the opposite. Now I want to be there more than ever. »
