FIFA stops Argentina retiring Messi's number 10 jersey
FIFA has blocked Argentina from retiring Lionel Messi's number 10 jersey after his international retirement, citing tournament rules that require teams to use numbers 1 to 26 in final competitions. The Argentine Football Association had announced that no player would wear the No. 10 after Messi’s farewell friendly against Benin on October 6 at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, where he will end a career of 207 appearances and 125 goals, including leading Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final loss to Spain.
This restriction matters because fans hoped for a permanent tribute to one of football’s greatest players, and it mirrors the situation Liberia faced when trying to retire George Weah’s number 14 during World Cup qualifiers. It highlights FIFA’s inflexibility with squad numbering, leaving manager Lionel Scaloni undecided on who will inherit the iconic jersey.
The October 6 match will go ahead as planned, but the number 10 will not be retired afterward. Watch for which player receives the number in future fixtures, and consider how national teams might honor legends within FIFA’s constraints. If you were deciding, how would you commemorate Messi’s contribution without breaking the rules?