“When Messi retires from the national team, we will not allow anyone else to wear the number 10 after him. This number ’10’ will be retired for life in his honour. It’s the least we can do for him,” said Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, President of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), in an announcement to a local newspaper following the national team’s victorious campaign in the FIFA World Cup 2022.
The No. 10 jersey, steeped in football history and associated with greatness, will now be permanently reserved for Lionel Messi. This decision pays homage to Messi’s extraordinary contributions to the sport and, particularly, the Argentina national team. Tapia’s sentiment reflects the collective acknowledgment of Messi’s status as a football icon.
“The No. 10 jersey is well-known for representing the best players and leaders in football. In Argentina, this number is especially famous and has a strong history. It has always been worn by great players who have taken their teams to great success,” added Marca, quoting Tapia.
Messi, having played 180 times and scored 106 goals for Argentina, has solidified his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time. His victories, including the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022, align him with football legends such as Maradona and Pele.
The decision to retire the No. 10 jersey is not unprecedented. The AFA had previously considered retiring it to honor Maradona during the 2002 World Cup, a plan that was foiled by FIFA regulations. “The plan to retire the No. 10 jersey for Maradona couldn’t happen because of FIFA rules. These rules said teams must use numbers 1 to 23,” explained Marca, shedding light on the earlier attempt.
As Messi, at 37 years old, continues to contribute to the Argentina national team’s success, the retirement of the No. 10 jersey symbolises a heartfelt gesture, expressing gratitude and respect for his unparalleled impact on the sport and his lasting legacy within Argentina’s football history.
