Who will inherit Messi’s No. 10 jersey for Argentina?

The day Argentine football fans never wanted to arrive has finally come. Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the national team, bringing an extraordinary international career to an emotional end. Now, the Albiceleste faces a new era, with one major question dominating the conversation: who will inherit Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey, and who can replace his influence on the pitch?

Messi first wore Argentina’s No. 10 on March 28, 2009, during Diego Maradona’s time as national-team coach. He wore the shirt for the first time in a 4-0 victory over Venezuela, and it soon became inseparable from his identity. Whenever Messi was available, the No. 10 belonged to him.

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The shirt has already been worn by several players in his absence. Franco Mastantuono was the latest, wearing it against Ecuador in Argentina’s final 2026 World Cup qualifier. Before him, Angel Correa wore it against Uruguay and Brazil, while Paulo Dybala wore the number against Chile and scored. However, none of those three players were included in Argentina’s final World Cup squad.

Replacing Messi on the field, however, will be far more complicated than replacing his shirt number. Argentina is losing its greatest creator, one of its most prolific scorers and the central figure of an era that produced the Copa America, Finalissima and World Cup titles.

Several of Lionel Scaloni’s regular players could now become candidates for the shirt. Lautaro Martinez wears No. 10 for Inter, while Alexis Mac Allister has also worn it for Liverpool. Nicolas Paz is another option, having worn the number for Como 1907. Other players with previous experience wearing No. 10 include Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Thiago Almada, Giovani Lo Celso and Nicolas Gonzalez.

Mastantuono could be one of the most intriguing long-term candidates, particularly after recently being trusted with the shirt at international level. Nicolas Paz is another player whose technical ability and creativity could make him an important figure in Argentina’s next generation.

Replacing Messi on the field, however, will be far more complicated than replacing his shirt number. Argentina is losing its greatest creator, one of its most prolific scorers and the central figure of an era that produced the Copa America, Finalissima and World Cup titles.

Still, Argentina has already shown that it can perform without Messi. The 4-1 victory over Brazil at the Monumental was a powerful example of the team’s ability to function collectively in his absence.

The solution may therefore not be to find another Messi, but to spread his responsibilities among several players. Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez could lead the attack, while Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez, Paz, Almada and Mastantuono can share the creative burden.

There will be a new No. 10, but there will never be another Messi. Argentina’s next challenge is to build a team in which an entire generation can carry the responsibilities once shouldered by one extraordinary player.