Argentina Faces Dilemma Over Messi's No. 10 Shirt

Argentina is facing a dilemma regarding the future of Lionel Messi's iconic No. 10 shirt following his retirement from international football. The Argentine Football Association had intended to permanently retire the number in honor of Messi, who has been a pivotal figure for the national team for over two decades.

However, FIFA regulations prohibit the permanent removal of squad numbers, meaning Argentina cannot simply retire the No. 10 shirt during competitions where squad-number assignments are required. This situation echoes a previous attempt by Argentina to retire Diego Maradona's No. 10 shirt ahead of the 2002 World Cup, which was also thwarted by FIFA rules.

Messi, who is set to make his final appearance for Argentina in a farewell friendly against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires on October 6, leaves as the national team's record appearance-maker and leading goalscorer, having contributed significantly to Argentina's success, including their 2022 World Cup victory.