Argentina set to make symbolic Lionel Messi gesture in first game since retirement

Argentina will leave the No.10 shirt vacant in November friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica as they decide Messi's long-term successor.

Following Lionel Messi's retirement from the Argentina national team in October, La Albiceleste will begin the post-Messi era in November with a symbolic gesture: no player will wear the No.10 shirt in upcoming friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica.

According to Tyc Sports, the Argentine Football Association will omit the number from their squad list while they determine who will inherit it permanently. Contenders include Como's Nico Paz, 22, who has impressed in Serie A and the Champions League this season, as well as Premier League stars Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister.

FIFA rules prevent teams from retiring numbers for major competitions like the World Cup, which require consecutive squad numbering with no gaps. However, these restrictions do not apply to international friendlies, allowing Argentina flexibility to delay the decision. The AFA previously attempted to retire the No.10 following Diego Maradona's international retirement ahead of the 2002 World Cup, but was unable to do so under the same regulations.