Lionel Messi Retirement: What Happens to Argentina's No. 10 Shirt?

Farewell game of Lionel Messi: Lionel Messi said goodbye to international football, having played his last game for Argentina in a friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Wednesday. Argentina won the game 3-0 under the leadership of 39-year-old Lionel Messi. This game was called "The Last Tango."

It is worth mentioning that Lionel Messi retired from the Argentine national team in August. This happened almost a month after Argentina's loss to Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

#AD10S ? ? Lionel Andrés Messi, en casa, con su gente: "Siento muchas emociones. Lo primero en lo que pienso es en mi viejo. No me queda más que agradecer, fue un orgullo muy grande vestir esta camiseta por más de 20 años". https://t.co/e0RfPB52fm

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— ?? Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) October 7, 2026

Legendary footballer Lionel Messi wears the No. 10 shirt of the Argentina national team. It was his last international match against Benin. Given the circumstances, football fans from all over the world are wondering whether Lionel Messi's number 10 shirt will also retire.

However, it must be stated that the rules of the tournaments conducted by FIFA and other federations (AFC, UEFA, etc.) do not give room for doubt. Namely, the jerseys of players of national teams must be numbered in consecutive order.

For example, in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a team consists of 26 players. This means that players must wear jersey numbers from 1 to 26. Therefore, Argentina cannot retire the number 10 jersey despite the retirement of legendary footballer Lionel Messi from international football.

Diego Maradona also played wearing the number 10 jersey. The Argentine Football Federation proposed to FIFA to retire the number 10 jersey in his honor. FIFA rejected Argentina's proposal before the 2002 World Cup.

Ariel Ortega wore the number 10 jersey in that World Cup. However, the rules regarding jersey numbers are less strict in friendly matches. Therefore, Argentina can reserve the number 10 jersey for these matches if they wish.

#SelecciónMayor El último tango tenía que ser en Argentina: Messi y el cierre de una historia que ya es eterna. ? https://t.co/5mNNGaXXuY https://t.co/ya5adRUdwo — ?? Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) October 6, 2026

Legendary footballer Lionel Messi made his international debut in 2005. Since then, he has played a total of 208 matches, scoring 126 goals and registering 66 assists. His international career includes the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América, the 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medal, and the 2022 Finalismo. Lionel Messi has participated in a total of six World Cups in his career.

Lionel Messi may have retired from international football, but he will continue to play club football. Currently, he plays for Inter Miami.