Who will succeed Messi in wearing the number 10 shirt for Argentina?

Argentinian football is preparing for a new phase following Lionel Messi's announcement of his international retirement on October 7, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy and a shirt bearing the number 10, which has been associated with his name for many years. It is now awaiting a new player to take on the responsibility of wearing it and leading the national team in the future.

Over 18 years, Messi has worn the number 10 shirt with the Argentina national team, playing 171 matches between 2008 and 2026, during which he scored 118 goals out of a total of 126 international goals according to the figures in the report. He also led his country to victory in the Copa América 2021, the Finalissima 2022, the FIFA World Cup 2022, and the Copa América 2024, leaving the challenge of his succession a significant task for the current generation.

Several players have worn the number 10 shirt during Messi's absence from the national team, including Federico Insúa, Éver Banega, Erik Lamela, and Franco Mastantuono, who each had the honor once. Enzo Pérez, Nicolás Gaitán, Héctor Canteros, Ángel Di María, and Paulo Dybala wore it on two occasions, while Ángel Correa donned it in four matches, and Sergio Agüero wore the number 10 in seven matches.

Throughout the history of the Argentine national team, the number 10 jersey has been worn by legendary names, starting with Alfredo Rojas, followed by Mario Alberto Kempes, who led his country to victory in the FIFA World Cup 1978, and then Diego Armando Maradona, one of the most prominent players to wear this number in football history. After him, the jersey was worn by Diego Simeone, Marcelo Gallardo, Pablo Aimar, and Juan Román Riquelme. The 1997 edition of the Copa América also witnessed an exceptional incident when goalkeeper Nacho González wore the number 10, due to the alphabetical distribution of jerseys based on players' names.

Regarding the FIFA World Cup, Kempes wore the number 10 in the 1978 edition, followed by Maradona in the 1982, 1986, 1990, and 1994 editions, then Ariel Ortega took on the role in the 1998 and 2002 editions, followed by Riquelme in 2006, culminating in Messi, who has held the shirt since the 2010 World Cup until the 2026 edition.

Nico Paz, the Como player, is leading the list of candidates for the shirt after impressive performances under Cesc Fàbregas, scoring six goals and providing eight assists in 13 matches. The importance of the young player goes beyond his numbers; it extends to his influence in build-up play and his ability to move intelligently in tight spaces, making him one of the top options to succeed Messi.

Julián Alvarez, Atlético forward, is among the top contenders, having become one of the key players in Argentina's attack, thanks to his impressive performances and the great confidence placed in him by coach Lionel Scaloni. Alvarez has a remarkable record with the national team, having contributed to recent titles, and he aims to follow in the footsteps of Sergio Agüero, who previously wore the number 10 shirt during Messi's absence.

Enzo Fernández, a midfielder for Manchester City according to the report, also possesses the qualities to compete for this role, having established himself as one of the standout players for the national team since his impressive performance in the FIFA World Cup 2022, particularly during the match against Mexico where he scored an important goal. Enzo is known for his leadership qualities and ability to influence the team's performance, and he has previously captained Chelsea after just three seasons with the English club.

Alexis Mac Allister, a Liverpool player, stands out as another option, especially since the number 10 shirt has accompanied him at previous stages of his career, both with Liverpool and Brighton and AA Argentinos Juniors. The Argentine midfielder combines technical quality with the ability to perform multiple roles, along with his leadership qualities, making him a candidate capable of taking on the responsibility of this number.

Franco Mastantuono, a player for Real Madrid, still has much to prove at the European level, having not received enough minutes to showcase his abilities so far. Despite his previous brilliance with CA River Plate, he has yet to replicate that level in Europe. However, his talent and significant market value keep his name among the list of candidates.

According to the report, Nico Paz seems to be the closest at the moment to getting the number 10 shirt, considering the levels he is showing with Como. However, the final decision regarding who will succeed Messi is still pending, amidst competition from several names with different abilities and ambitions to lead Argentina in the next phase.