The key facts

  • Scaloni left the number 10 unassigned for the matches against Uruguay (November 14) and Costa Rica (November 17)
  • Candidates for the number were Nico Paz, Franco Mastantuono and Thiago Almada
  • The AFA asked FIFA to retire the number, but was refused

The number 10 remains unassigned

Argentina national team head coach Lionel Scaloni has decided that in the team's upcoming friendly matches, the number 10, worn by Lionel Messi, will not be given to any player. This was reported by TyC Sports, as cited by Daryo.uz. In November, Argentina will play two friendlies: against Uruguay on November 14 and Costa Rica on November 17.

Who was in line for the number

One of the main candidates for the legendary number was considered to be 22-year-old Nico Paz, who wears the number 10 for Como. Franco Mastantuono and Thiago Almada were also mentioned among the contenders; Almada had already received the number 10 during the period when Messi was not playing for the national team.

Context: FIFA's refusal and the farewell match

Earlier, the Argentine Football Association asked FIFA to officially retire the number 10, but was refused — so Scaloni's decision applies only to the upcoming matches and does not mean the number has been officially reserved for Messi. The player himself ended his national team career with a farewell match on October 7 in Buenos Aires: Argentina beat Benin 3:0, with Messi scoring a goal and providing two assists. In total, he made 208 appearances for the national team, scoring 126 goals and providing 69 assists.