Lionel Messi has made his mark in international soccer, taking the Argentina national team to new heights. The forward has created history since his debut for them and is now their top scorer as well. Despite some initial failures to win any trophies, he has now won three, including the much-coveted World Cup trophy in 2022.
He is very much beloved in Argentina right now, with fans chanting his name during games. Everyone there is ready to do anything for the hero that ended their long World Cup wait. To honor him, the soccer federation is deciding to tribute him in the highest way possible.
Argentina FA plans to retire Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey
The Argentine FA, which controls Argentina’s all soccer-related activities, has decided to make a bold move. They are planning to retire the iconic No. 10 jersey in honor of Lionel Messi, who has long donned the jersey for them.
This was confirmed by Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, the president of the Argentine soccer federation. He said to an Argentine newspaper, “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 honor. It’s the least we can do for him.”
Indeed, the captain of the team has made 180 appearances for the national side, and with 106 goals is their top scorer of all time. He was crucial to their winning the Copa America in 2021, the Finalissima and the World Cup the next year. Messi was the player of the tournament in the two major competitions, and there is no doubt he has had a considerable impact on Argentina’s soccer team.
But MARCA has reported that FIFA, the world soccer governing body, does not allow the numbers 1 to 23 to be retired at all. This was the case when the Argentine federation wanted to retire the jersey number 10 for Diego Maradona previously. If they do manage to retire it, Lionel Messi would get a great tribute from his nation.
Other jersey numbers Lionel Messi donned for Argentina
But Lionel Messi wasn’t always donning the No.10 for Argentina. The then upcoming talent had donned the No.18 for the U20 team, before wearing No.19 for his debut game against Hungary in 2005. His 2006 World Cup appearance saw him wear No.18 again for his national side.
When he won the Olympic gold for them in 2008, he wore the No.15 for that team. In 2009, he would wear the iconic No.10 jersey for his national side, after donning it on club level. Coincidentally, it was under the first match of Diego Maradona’s managerial tenure in a friendly against Venezuela.
Since that game, he has worn the same number, and added more history to it. After the likes of Mario Kempes in 1978 and Diego Maradona in 1986, Messi would create history in 2022 by winning the World Cup like his predecessors.
It now remains to be seen if the No. 10 is indeed retired. If so, it would be the greatest tribute to a player from his national team. Currently, his longtime club Barcelona are also using his iconic jersey number for another purpose.
