Argentina Leaves Number 10 Jersey Vacant After Messi

The Chosun Ilbo · OSEN · 2026-11-06 15:23 UTC

Argentina Leaves Number 10 Jersey Vacant After Messi Team to Decide Successor in 2027 Following Retirement of Iconic Playmaker

[OSEN=Jung Seung-woo Reporter] The Argentina national football team, which Lionel Messi (39 years old) has left, has decided to leave the number 10 jersey vacant for the time being. While interest is focused on who will succeed Messi, the team has stated it will not immediately decide on a new owner of the jersey.

The UK’s ‘Daily Star’ reported on the 6th (Korean time), “The symbolic number 10 jersey of the Argentina national team will remain unassigned in the upcoming two friendly matches. The coaching staff has decided not to allocate the number long worn by Messi to another player.”

Messi concluded his international career after a friendly match against Benin held at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last month. As Messi, who represented Argentina for nearly 20 years, departed, attention turned to who would inherit his number 10 jersey.

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