Published : 01 Sep 2026, 08:41 PM
Updated : 08 Sep 2026, 09:37 AM
Lionel Messi may have called time on his Argentina career, but his iconic No. 10 cannot simply follow him into retirement.
The shirt that belonged to Messi for the better part of two decades is vacant following his decision to end his international career at 39.
Argentina are under no obligation to hand it immediately to a permanent successor. Indeed, several players wore No. 10 when Messi missed international matches during his career.
FIFA required all numbers from 1 to 26 to be allocated at the 2026 World Cup, meaning Argentina could not simply retire No. 10 under those rules.
Unless those rules change, the famous shirt will eventually need a new owner at the tournament.
The question is who.
A Number Bigger Than Messi
Messi did not create Argentina’s mythology around No. 10.
He inherited it.
Before him came Diego Maradona, whose connection to the number was strong enough to survive Argentina’s unusual experiments with alphabetical squad numbering.
For the 1986 World Cup, Argentina largely assigned numbers alphabetically, but FIFA records three exceptions: Daniel Passarella was given No. 6, Jorge Valdano No. 11 and Maradona his coveted No. 10.
Four decades later, the number is inseparable from two of the greatest footballers Argentina has produced.
Messi first wore the senior Argentina No. 10 against Venezuela in March 2009, after previously appearing in numbers including 18 and 19. From then on, it became as closely associated with him as it had once been with Maradona.
So Argentina’s next decision is not simply about filling a vacant number.
And it certainly does not mean finding “the next Messi”.
There isn't one.
The more interesting question is what Argentina want the shirt to represent now: their chief creator, their biggest attacking star, their brightest prospect, or simply another member of Lionel Scaloni’s team.
Nico Paz: The Romantic Choice?
If Argentina want No. 10 to retain its traditional association with the enganche, the creative player between midfield and attack, Nico Paz presents perhaps the most intriguing case.
The 21-year-old Como midfielder is a left-footed creator comfortable between the lines and has emerged as one of the outstanding talents of Argentina’s next generation.
Scaloni has previously said the youngster had an “enormous future” and could play in several positions.
There was even a striking piece of symbolism during Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup. Paz, wearing No. 18, came off the bench against Algeria to replace Messi — Argentina’s emerging creator entering as their greatest No 10 walked off.
That does not make Paz Messi’s heir.
But inheriting a shirt is not the same thing as replacing the man who wore it.
If Argentina want No. 10 to sit on the shoulders of a young creative player capable of becoming central to the next cycle, Paz has an obvious argument.
Thiago Almada: The Established Creative Option
Thiago Almada offers another interpretation.
He has considerably more experience in Scaloni’s setup and was already part of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup-winning squad before returning for the 2026 tournament.
At this summer’s World Cup, Almada wore No. 16.
Almada may not have quite the same “future superstar” intrigue surrounding him as Paz, but he is technically gifted, comfortable playing behind the forwards and already understands the demands of Scaloni’s Argentina.
If the coach values continuity and experience, Almada merits consideration.
Julián Álvarez: The New Attacking Leader
There is another possibility: stop worrying about finding a traditional Argentine playmaker and give the No. 10 shirt to the player expected to become the side’s biggest attacking figure.
That brings Julián Álvarez into the conversation.
Álvarez wore No. 9 at the 2026 World Cup and is firmly established as a centre-forward, so there is no obvious reason for him to change.
But at 26, he is entering his prime, already has a World Cup winner’s medal and is among the leading figures of the generation that must carry Argentina beyond Messi.
If No. 10 becomes a symbol of stature rather than position, Álvarez has a case.
For now, though, it is a debate and not a succession plan.
Scaloni Has Been Here Before
The 10 has had temporary owners before. There is also no requirement for Scaloni to immediately crown a permanent heir.
Argentina have repeatedly handed No. 10 to somebody else when Messi was unavailable.
In September 2024, with Messi injured, Scaloni was asked who would wear it against Chile.
He played down the issue, noting that Ángel Correa had previously used the number in Messi’s absence.
But his next words captured what the shirt meant while Messi was still playing.
“We know the 10 has an owner,” Scaloni said, adding that Argentina had great affection for the number.
Paulo Dybala wore it in the match that followed, and other players have also filled in for Messi over the years.
But the owner Scaloni was referring to has now stepped away, leaving behind a record 207 appearances, 125 goals, two Copa América titles and the 2022 World Cup.
The team must now develop without organising itself around the greatest player of its era.
Perhaps that means Argentina should resist the temptation to immediately nominate another chosen one.
If No. 10 remains the shirt of their great creator, Paz or Almada may eventually look like the natural fit.
If it becomes the number of the team's new attacking figurehead, Álvarez enters the fray.
Or Scaloni could simply allow the shirt to pass between players until somebody makes it unmistakably his own.
Argentina will never have another Messi, but another player will pull on that famous blue-and-white No. 10.
And the world will be watching to see who it is.
