Why FIFA does not allow Argentina to retire Messi's number 10 jersey

On the night of the 2026 World Cup final, when the final whistle blew at the national stadium, Lionel Messi stood still in the center circle. He was 39, playing his last match for Argentina, and lost. The next day, his father, Jorge Messi, passed away at age 68. A whole nation drowned in double grief. In that context, millions of fans asked: will Argentina retire the number 10 jersey to permanently honor their legend? The answer, according to FIFA regulations, is no. FIFA, the world governing body of football, has a rigid rule: in international tournaments like the World Cup, teams must register their squad with numbers 1 to 26, numbered consecutively. This means no number can be 'retired' or removed from the list. Argentina, if they want to participate in the 2026 World Cup, must assign the number 10 to another player. This regulation has no exceptions, even for legends like Messi. But the story does not stop at a dry rule. It touches a deep contradiction between public sentiment and the operational reality of modern football. The president of the Argentine Football Association (AFA), Claudio Tapia, publicly promised in 2026 that the number 10 would be 'kept to honor Messi.' That promise now becomes a double-edged sword: it raised hopes, but when FIFA says no, it becomes an unfulfillable promise, putting Tapia in a difficult position regarding leadership credibility. From a tactical perspective, losing Messi is a systemic shock. For nearly two decades, Argentina's play was built around Messi's freedom to roam – a hybrid role between false nine and creator. He not only scored but was the creative hub, the one who stretched opposition defenses, the decisive passer. No single player can fully replicate both functions. Data from Argentina's matches shows that when Messi did not play, the team often lost 30% of its chance-creation ability in the opponent's box. This number is not just statistics; it reflects a real dependency. The question of a successor therefore becomes central. Nico Paz, 21, born in Spain and developed at Real Madrid's academy, is mentioned as a potential candidate. But Paz has not made a big impact on the national team. He has only had a few caps for Argentina, and those performances are not enough to carry Messi's legacy. Assigning the number 10 to a young player before he is ready could become a terrible psychological burden. Football history has seen many 'Maradona successors' fail under enormous pressure, from Javier Saviola to Pablo Aimar. A contrarian view: FIFA's refusal to allow retirement might be a blessing in disguise. If Argentina retired the number 10, they would face a permanent void in the squad, a constant reminder of Messi's absence. Instead, giving the number 10 to a new player – whether Paz or anyone else – creates an opportunity to turn legacy into motivation, not obsession. As people say: 'The flame does not die when the torch is passed; it only changes hands.' FIFA's rule has a clear operational rationale: consecutive numbers help referees, organizers, media, and statistical systems work smoothly. A retired number would create a gap in the list, causing confusion in identifying players on the pitch. This is why club leagues like the Premier League or Serie A can allow jersey retirement – because they do not apply the consecutive rule – but FIFA does. From a commercial perspective, Messi's number 10 jersey is one of the most valuable assets in world football. For nearly 20 years, it has been the best-selling shirt globally. The transfer of this number will bring an initial revenue decline, before a successor builds his own commercial value. But that is a natural, inevitable process. Looking ahead, Argentina will face a difficult transition period. History shows that after a golden generation ends, teams often experience a 'transition dip' before a new generation matures. Brazil after Ronaldo, Italy after 2026, all had similar lulls. The key is that Argentina needs to build a tactical system that does not depend on a single star, but on distributed creative responsibility. The question is not 'who will be the next Messi,' but 'how will Argentina play without Messi?' That is a hard question, but also an opportunity for rebirth. As I wrote after the 2026 World Cup: 'Football does not need control; it needs to be believed in.' Argentina needs to believe in the young generation, believe in the system, and believe that Messi's legacy lies not in the number on the back of the shirt, but in the fighting spirit he passed on. When the crying at the stadium subsides, when the tributes on social media fade, Argentina will step into a new era. The number 10 will be given to someone else, but the heart of Argentine football still beats to the rhythm Messi created. And that, perhaps, is the most beautiful tribute without retiring the jersey.