Lionel Messi is set for his final Argentina national football team appearance against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, bringing down the curtain on an international career that has transformed the meaning of the No. 10 shirt. Messi, who made his Argentina debut in 2005 and took over the iconic number in 2009, has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for the Albiceleste, both national records, while winning back-to-back Copa America titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
But once Messi walks away, Argentina cannot simply retire the No. 10 shirt forever, despite the calls that are certain to follow. FIFA regulations require national teams to assign consecutive squad numbers during FIFA and confederation tournaments. With a 26-player squad at the 2026 World Cup, for example, Argentina’s numbers had to run from 1 to 26, meaning No. 10 could not simply be left vacant. It is a stark contrast to American sports, where retiring a legendary player’s number is one of the highest honours a franchise can offer.
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