neoeraadmin 
In a heartfelt gesture, Argentina plans to retire the legendary No.10 jersey worn by Lionel Messi once he concludes his illustrious career. Argentina Football Federation president Claudio ‘Chiqui’ Tapia expressed this commitment, emphasizing that after Messi’s retirement from the national team, no other player will don the iconic No.10 in his honor.
Tapia conveyed this decision to an Argentine newspaper, stating, “When Messi retires from the national team, we will not allow anyone else to wear the number 10 after him. This number ’10’ will be retired for life in his honour. It’s the least we can do for him.” This move echoes Argentina’s previous attempt to retire the No.10 jersey, worn by the legendary Diego Maradona, before the 2002 World Cup, though FIFA rules prevented it.
Messi, with 106 goals in 180 matches for Argentina, boasts an impressive international career, including triumphs in the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup. As uncertainty surrounds Messi’s future by the time the 2026 World Cup approaches, he aims to secure a second Copa crown with Argentina in 2024.
Recently, six of Messi’s iconic jerseys from the 2022 World Cup, including the celebrated No.10 worn in the final against France, were auctioned for a staggering $7.8 million. Messi’s stellar performance in the tournament, where he scored seven goals and earned three assists, earned him the prestigious Golden Ball award for the second time.
