In U.S. sports like the NBA or MLB, retiring a jersey number is the ultimate tribute. When an athlete transcends a franchise, think Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, or baseball’s league-wide immortalization of Jackie Robinson’s No. 42, their shirt is hoisted into the rafters forever, untouched and unassigned.

So, as Lionel Messi prepares to bid farewell to the international stage in Buenos Aires against Benin, marking his record 208th appearance and 125th goal for Argentina, a natural question arises: Why won’t the Argentine Football Association (AFA) retire the iconic No. 10 shirt?

While fans might dream of locking away the jersey worn by two of football's greatest ever sons, a FIFA tournament rule prevents Argentina from leaving the No. 10 unassigned at competitions such as the World Cup.

Why FIFA Rules Prevent Argentina From Retiring the No. 10 Shirt

In football, retiring a squad number is already a rarity. While club sides like Napoli famously retired Diego Maradona’s No. 10 and AC Milan locked away Paolo Maldini’s No. 3, international football operates under a completely different rulebook.

During official FIFA and FIFA confederation tournaments, such as World Cup qualifiers, Copa America, and the World Cup itself, national teams are bound by strict squad numbering regulations.

Squads must designate consecutive numbers for every player registered. For instance, with modern World Cup squads expanding to 26 players, associations must use numbers running sequentially from 1 to 26.
Leaving a gap or skipping a digit like the sacred No. 10 is strictly prohibited by tournament protocol.

How FIFA Previously Blocked Argentina From Retiring Maradona’s No. 10

This is not even the first time Argentina has run into FIFA's red tape over the No. 10 shirt. Back ahead of the 2002 World Cup, the AFA attempted to officially retire the number in honor of Diego Maradona, who led the nation to glory in 1986.

FIFA's decision meant Argentina had to assign the No. 10, with Ariel Ortega ultimately wearing it at the 2002 World Cup.

While the AFA could theoretically choose to keep the No. 10 off-limits during international friendlies, where rules regarding squad lists are far more flexible, any official competitive fixture under CONMEBOL or FIFA jurisdiction forces them to keep the sequence intact.

Read More: Lionel Messi Completes Eldense Takeover Pending Final CSD Approval

Read More: David Beckham Backs Lionel Messi for 2026 Ballon d’Or After 100th Inter Miami Goal

Who Could Wear Argentina’s No. 10 After Lionel Messi?

Worn by Mario Kempes, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi, the Argentina No. 10 is arguably the most storied jersey in football history. It carries suffocating expectations, yet it remains the ultimate dream for every young Argentine player.

As Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni noted to FIFA: "We’ll wait until Leo’s (last) match and then see what happens. The idea is for one player to make it their own."

So, who is next in line to take up the mantle? Speculation points toward established stars like Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister (who wears the number at club level), while younger options such as Nico Paz and Franco Mastantuono could eventually enter the conversation.

What Lionel Messi Said About Argentina’s No. 10 Shirt

"We all thought we were a bit different as players. Even if we weren’t, we all wanted to wear No. 10 from a young age. Obviously, it’s always been a special shirt," Messi once told FIFA.

The shirt will remain active on the pitch, with Argentina eventually needing another player to carry its famous No. 10.