Scaloni leaves Messi’s No.10 shirt vacant for Argentina’s November friendlies

Argentina will begin their post-Lionel Messi era during the November 2026 international break, facing Uruguay at the Estadio Alberto José Armando (La Bombonera) in Buenos Aires on November 13 and Costa Rica at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba on November 17. Head coach Lionel Scaloni has decided that the No. 10 shirt Messi wore from 2009 until his international retirement will not be used in those friendlies.

Lionel Messi wore the No. 10 jersey from 2009 until his international retirement and played his farewell match against Benin as an Inter Miami forward. The number has previously been worn by Mario Kempes and Diego Maradona. Scaloni had earlier indicated the coaching staff would wait until Messi’s farewell match before making a decision, saying: "We’ll wait until Leo’s match (against Benin) and then see what happens. The idea is for one player to make it (No. 10 jersey) their own."

Multiple media reports state Scaloni opted to leave the No. 10 shirt vacant for the friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica. Those reports note that FIFA regulations require teams to assign numbers from 1 to 23 during official tournaments but do not apply in the same way to international friendlies, which allows Argentina to leave the No. 10 unassigned.

TyC Sports reported the decision on social media, writing: "Decision made by Scaloni, waiting to pick the ‘next’ number 10 for Argentina." The outlet also published that "Lionel Messi’s iconic No10 shirt will not be used by any other Argentina player in the upcoming international break," according to the tweet included in reports.

Como midfielder Nico Paz is being reported as the frontrunner to inherit the No. 10 shirt. Other players tipped to claim the number include Real Madrid youngster Franco Mastantuono, Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.

Media reports suggest Scaloni could name the player to wear the No. 10 when Argentina resume their South American FIFA World Cup 2030 qualifying campaign in 2027.