Retiring Messi’s Iconic No. 10: The Argentina FA’s Ambition and the FIFA Hurdles

The President of the Argentina Football Association, Chiqui Tapia, recently made a bold pledge to retire the coveted No. 10 jersey once football legend Lionel Messi concludes his illustrious career. The question arises: Is this technically feasible?

Surprisingly, the answer is yes. Football associations possess the authority to make decisions regarding jersey numbers, including the retirement of iconic ones. However, a significant caveat exists within FIFA regulations. In FIFA competitions, teams are required to assign numbers from 1 to 26. The act of retiring a number would mean Argentina could only field 25 players in their squad—a potential stumbling block to the ambitious proposal.

Interestingly, Argentina has encountered a similar scenario before. In 2001, the FA retired the No. 10 jersey as a tribute to the legendary Diego Maradona. However, ahead of the 2002 World Cup, FIFA rejected the submitted 23-man squad that omitted the No. 10, prompting a unique suggestion from then-FIFA President Sepp Blatter. He proposed assigning the No. 10 to Argentina’s third-choice goalkeeper. The FA declined this proposal and ultimately assigned the No. 10 to one of their outfield players.

The outcome of this recent proposal hinges on potential changes to FIFA rules. Unless adjustments are made to accommodate the idea, Argentina may find it challenging to retire Messi’s iconic No. 10 without sacrificing a player spot in their squad.