Following Argentina’s exhibition match against Benin later this month, Lionel Messi has chosen to retire from the international stage.
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) is now faced with the task of determining how to forever pay tribute to what is widely considered the finest player their country has ever produced.
Claudio Tapia, the head of the AFA, has voiced his intent to withdraw the legendary No. 10 jersey from use, but stringent rules set by FIFA render this objective nearly unachievable.
What prevents Argentina from retiring Lionel Messi’s No. 10 jersey?
According to active FIFA guidelines, countries are forbidden from retiring squad numbers for major tournaments, including the World Cup, Copa America, and the Euros.
The rules dictate that participating teams must allocate a consecutive sequence of squad numbers, typically starting at 1 and going up to the total roster limit, like 1 to 26, meaning no numbers can be skipped or left vacant.
The alternative ways Argentina could still reserve Messi’s number
This protocol is maintained chiefly for organizational purposes, as sequential numbering is believed to help referees, match officials, and digital broadcast trackers monitor player changes, goals, VAR reviews, and card bookings more efficiently.
The Albiceleste have prior experience with FIFA’s unyielding stance, having tried to mothball the No. 10 jersey to honor Diego Maradona prior to the 2002 World Cup in South Korea and Japan. The governing body turned down the appeal, requiring the team to utilize the number, which was ultimately allocated to Ariel Ortega during that tournament.
Even so, a loophole remains. Argentina could theoretically honor Messi outside of official tournaments, as individual football associations enjoy far greater leeway regarding team numbers during unofficial exhibition games.
For friendly encounters, associations have the option to omit certain legendary numbers from the team sheet altogether. Consequently, the AFA could bypass FIFA’s numbering constraints during friendly breaks, enabling Argentina to take the field without any player wearing the number 10, either on the pitch or on the bench.
While someone must inevitably don the jersey when official tournaments commence, Argentina can successfully keep Messi’s iconic number vacant during friendly matches whenever the situation permits.
