On 28 March 2009, Argentina secured a commanding 4-0 victory against Venezuela. Yet the match is remembered less for its scoreline and more for a historic milestone: it was the first time Lionel Messi donned the legendary number 10 shirt for the national side.
Over the subsequent 17 years, the number 10 jersey became virtually synonymous with Messi. He wore the iconic shirt in 172 international matches. While giants of the game like Diego Maradona, Mario Kempes, Juan Román Riquelme, and Ariel Ortega previously graced the number, Messi’s tenure stands out as the longest, most statistically dominant, and most influential era in Argentine football history.
In Argentine football culture, the number 10 is far more than a digit on a shirt; it represents creativity, leadership, and the immense weight of national expectation. Whenever Messi was absent due to injury or rest, 17 different players briefly inherited the shirt. Sergio Agüero wore it most frequently, donning it seven times, while Ángel Correa wore it on five occasions. Notably, the national team chose to leave the shirt unassigned in 28 matches during his career, leaving it vacant for its rightful owner.
With Messi’s international career approaching its final chapter, Argentine sporting daily El Gráfico highlighted several key contenders poised to take over the permanent responsibility.
Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister has emerged as a primary candidate. Wearing the number 10 shirt at club level, Mac Allister possesses the vision, composure, and tactical discipline that make him a natural fit to lead Argentina’s central setup.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández also stands out as a strong candidate, having established himself as a cornerstone of manager Lionel Scaloni’s midfield through his box-to-box presence and playmaking ability. Meanwhile, 21-year-old Como midfielder Nicolás Paz, who wears the number 10 shirt for his club, represents a promising long-term option despite his limited international caps.
Attacking options remain firmly in contention as well. Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez, who wears the number 10 for his club, offers proven goalscoring pedigree and leadership. At the younger end of the spectrum, teenage prospect Franco Mastantuono recently wore the shirt in Messi’s absence, though his relative lack of international experience makes an immediate full-time handover less probable.
The final determination rests with manager Lionel Scaloni. Whichever player receives the nod will face a task far greater than replacing a jersey; they will step directly into the shadow of Messi’s towering legacy, inheriting the relentless scrutiny and massive expectations of global football fans.
