There are numerous essential symbols in football, and one of them is the number ten.

However, the number 10 of the Argentinian national team is a very significant emblem.

Wearing the number 10 in a team elevates you to the level of a star, a leader on the field. We can all recall great players who wore that number and rose to become captains of their teams.

The Argentine national team’s number ten jersey, which the Argentine Football Association (AFA) opted to retire in honor of Diego Maradona, was worn by a player on Marcelo Bielsa’s team during the 2002 World Cup.

At the time, AFA President Julio Grondona and certain Argentine authorities wanted it removed, but their demand “could not be fulfilled” due to a FIFA policy requiring teams to use numbers ranging from 1 to 23 in the highest national team tournament.

Following the AFA’s decision to honor Maradona by retiring the number ten jersey, Argentina chose Ariel Ortega to be the final player to wear the legendary number in the Argentina-Peru match.

Argentina will retire Messi’s number 10 jersey

After the Argentine national team and Lionel Messi won the World Cup in Qatar, the figure of the Argentine player will receive one final honor.

According to AFA president Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia, when he decides to put up his national team boots, his number 10, which was originally worn by Maradona, will be retired.

“When Messi retires from the national team, no one else will be allowed to wear the number 10 after him.” In his honor, the number ’10’ will be retired for good. “It’s the least we can do for him,” AFA president Tapia told a local newspaper.

Messi has made 180 appearances and scored 106 goals for the Argentina national team.

Among his senior team accomplishments are a Copa America (2021) and, most notably, the 2022 World Cup, which landed him on the podium alongside Diego Maradona and Pele.