FIFA has blocked Argentina’s plan to permanently retire Lionel Messi’s No.10 shirt.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) wanted to take the number out of circulation for good once Messi steps away from international football.
FIFA regulations don’t allow it. Teams competing in international final tournaments must register squads with consecutive numbers from 1 to 26, so the No.10 falls inside the mandatory range and must be assigned.
Argentina can still leave it unused in friendlies and qualifiers, which it did for the recent friendly win over Bolivia, but not at a World Cup or Copa America.
It’s not without precedent. Liberia retired the No.14 in honour of George Weah, but had to bring it back for its 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Argentina itself tried the same for Diego Maradona before the 2002 World Cup and was denied, with Ariel Ortega then taking the shirt.
Messi, 39, announced August 31 that he will retire from international football after 207 caps and 125 goals. His farewell appearance before the home crowd is expected October 6 against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni said Argentina is under no obligation to assign the number for upcoming matches and it will go to no one until after Messi’s farewell game.
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