For some, Lionel Messi is the best footballer in the world. In Argentina, fans adore the “Pulga” after he led them to win the Qatar 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa América Argentine Football Association (AFA) will make a radical decision if the Inter Miami football player decides to retire from football. What is it about?
During an interview, the president said AFA, Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, stated that the number “10” will be permanently retired from the Argentina national team if Lionel Messi decides to no longer play for the Albiceleste.
“If Messi leaves the national team, we will not allow anyone to wear the number '10' after him. This number '10' will be retired for life in his honor. “It’s the least we can do for him,” he told the newspaper Sport about the head of Argentine football.
Lionel Messi won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar wearing the “10” jersey. Photo: EFE
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Number “10” tried to be removed by Diego Maradona
This is not the first time that the AFA has attempted to retire the Argentina national team's number 10. When Julio Grondona was president he tried to withdraw it because Diego Armando Maradona would no longer wear the Albiceleste. However, this decision could not be fulfilled due to a FIFA regulation. This company stated that teams in the maximum national team tournament used numbers with sequential numbers from 1 to 23.
Since when has Lionel Messi worn the “10” in the Albiceleste?
Lionel Messi wore an Argentina national team jersey with the number “10” for the first time on March 29, 2009. On this occasion, the Albiceleste met Venezuela on matchday 12 of the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in South Africa. The victory went to “Pulga” 4-0.