Lionel Messi has walked away from the Argentina national team, and the football world is still catching its breath. After leading La Albiceleste to a heartbreaking extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, Messi confirmed on Instagram that his international career is over. Twenty-one years, six World Cups, 207 appearances, and one iconic number now sit vacant. So the question every Argentine fan is asking is simple: who takes the No. 10 next?
The Shirt That Carries a Nation’s History
Argentina’s No. 10 is not just a squad number. It is a bloodline that runs from Diego Maradona through Ariel Ortega, Juan Roman Riquelme, and finally Messi, who first pulled it on under Maradona’s own management back in 2009. In that shirt alone, Messi made a staggering 172 appearances, more than any of the legends who wore it before him. Replacing that is less like inheriting a jersey and more like inheriting a legacy.
There has even been talk of retiring the number entirely. Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia previously floated the idea of shelving it forever in Messi’s honor. But FIFA rules make a permanent international retirement complicated, and Argentina still needs a No. 10 on the team sheet. Someone has to wear it.
The Frontrunner: Nico Paz
According to reporting from ESPN Argentina, head coach Lionel Scaloni has already made up his mind, and the man he wants is 21-year-old Como playmaker Nico Paz. Paz already wears the No. 10 at club level, where he produced 13 goals and seven assists to help fire Como into Champions League qualification.
He made his senior Argentina debut in 2024 wearing No. 18, but insiders say the plan is now in motion to hand him the crown jewel of Argentine football once Scaloni’s expected contract extension is finalized.
Scaloni’s reported thinking makes sense. Paz is young, left-footed, technically gifted, and still has years to grow into the creative responsibility that once belonged to Messi. Handing him the shirt now sends a clear message that this is the start of a new era, not a placeholder decision.
The Established Alternatives
Paz is not the only name in the conversation. Liverpool’s Alexis Mac Allister, already a trusted figure in Scaloni’s midfield with over 50 caps, has been mentioned as a safer, more experienced option.
Enzo Fernandez, a Champions League and World Cup winner, also carries the pedigree and leadership profile that some believe should come with the number.
There is also Franco Mastantuono, the last player besides Messi to actually wear the No. 10 for Argentina, doing so during World Cup qualifying back in September 2025. That precedent alone keeps his name in the mix, even if the smart money is on Paz long term.
What Happens Next
Argentina returns to action with a fresh set of fixtures this autumn, and eyes will be locked on the team sheet the moment it drops. Whoever laces up in that shirt will not be trying to replace Messi. Nobody can do that. They will simply be the next chapter in one of football’s most storied numbers, carrying pressure that very few players in the world will ever understand.
One thing is certain. The wait to find out is almost over, and Argentine football is about to feel very different.
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