After what Messi has contributed to the team, especially after winning the Copa America 2021 and World Cup 2022, Argentina wants to pay a special tribute to the 36-year-old superstar, just like they wanted to do. with the late legend Diego Maradona.

Accordingly, the Argentine Football Federation wants to hang Messi’s iconic number 10 shirt on the national team for a while. In the past, Albiceleste wanted to do this when Maradona retired from the team.

The President of the Argentine Football Federation at that time – Mr. Julio Grondona – wanted no player to wear this symbolic shirt number of Maradona, starting at the 2002 World Cup. However, FIFA refused this request because the teams needed to have shirt numbers from 1 to 23 at the tournament. Therefore, Ariel Ortega was chosen as the player wearing shirt number 10.

Although the plan failed, Argentina hopes they will be able to retire the number 10 shirt once Messi announces his retirement from the national team in the near future. Since the 2022 World Cup, La Pulga has repeatedly opened up about this but still has great love for Argentina.

In the immediate future, Messi will join Argentina in attending Copa America 2024 next summer. After that, it is unknown whether the Inter Miami striker will retire from international football instead of continuing to attend the 2026 World Cup.