Who will inherit No. 10 jersey for Argentina after Lionel Messi’s retirement?
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The Argentina No. 10 jersey has been up for grabs since Messi’s retirement.
Nico Paz is reportedly set to inherit the iconic No. 10 jersey for Argentina that was previously worn by Lionel Messi. With the Argentine skipper having announced his retirement from international football, a report from ESPN Argentina revealed that head coach Lionel Scaloni has identified Paz as the successor.
This decision to hand the iconic jersey, previously worn by the likes of Messi and Diego Maradona, to Paz would be a massive one by Scaloni. Stars such as Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister were also in the running, but Scaloni handpicked Paz as the player who will be his new No. 10, according to ESPN Argentina insider Federico Bueno.
“If Scaloni renews as Argentina’s coach, which is expected to be negotiated in the coming months, the No. 10 shirt will go to Nico Paz,” Bueno said. “This has already been decided internally and is being taken very seriously.”
However, all of this depends on whether Scaloni renews his contract, which expires at the end of 2026. The head coach, who led La Albiceleste to back-to-back FIFA World Cup finals in 2022 and 2026, winning the 2022 edition, has been reported to be in line to sign an extension until 2030.
Meanwhile, 21-year-old Paz is expected to be a key part of his side, Como, as they look to challenge for a solid campaign in the Italian Serie A. Last season, Como secured UEFA Champions League qualification, with Paz scoring 13 goals and registering seven assists across all competitions while wearing No. 10.
The former Real Madrid player has 11 international caps for Argentina, scoring one goal.
Also Read: Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football
Messi’s retirement brings end of era
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Lionel Messi brought down the curtain on his international football career on Monday, announcing his retirement via social media. He made 207 appearances for La Albiceleste, 172 of which came while wearing the iconic No. 10 jersey.
Messi wore the No. 10 jersey for the first time in March 2009 while being coached by Maradona, who also used to wear this jersey number. Messi finished his international career with a record 125 goals for Argentina, winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Who will wear the No. 10 jersey for Argentina?
Nico Paz has reportedly been chosen by Lionel Scaloni to wear the famous shirt.
Which legends previously wore Argentina’s No. 10 jersey?
The number was famously worn by Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi, making it one of the most iconic shirts in football history.
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