Argentina is exploiting a space in FIFA regulations to avoid the immediate delivery of the fanella by the number 10, following Lionel Mess’s retirement from international football.
Messie, the best goal scorer in Argentina’s history and the biggest football player this national has ever had, had an exciting farewell during the last national holiday. He was honoured at the Éstadio Monumentalão Stadium after marking his 126th goal in victory over Benin.
A special fan was also prepared for this special occasion in honor of Mess, who after the match gave a field talk.
Argentina’s first match after the Messy era will take place on Friday, November 13th, against Uruguay, while on November 17th it will face Costa Rica.
Some changes have been needed with Inter Miami star, no longer part of the Argentinian nationals.
Cristian Romero has been appointed the new captain of Argentina, but national leaders have been reluctant to hand over another fanella to the 10, which Mess has kept for most of his career.
FIFA rules do not allow the final withdrawal of the Messi fan, as the regulation stipulates that numbers between 1 and 26 should be busy during international tournament matches.
Argentina has failed in trying to perpetuate Mess’s number, but will not hand him over to another football player immediately.
According to TyC Sports, no player will get number 10 in the next two friendly matches. This is because the same rules do not apply to contestary matches, enabling Argentina to temporarily postpone its use.
Argentina Football Federation ( The AFA had tried to attract the fanella by the number 10 and 2002, after Diego Maradona’s retirement from the national, but her request had been rejected.
Earlier, selective Lionel Scanlon had spoken on the matter, declaring:
The idea is that someone finally gets this fan, considering how special it is to wear it. We just haven’t decided who it is yet.
Scalon didn’t mention any potential candidate, but journalist ESPN Argentina, Federico Bueno, claimed that Nico Paz is in a favourable position to become the Messiah’s successor.
According to him, within the nationals it has already been decided that Paz will be the new host of number 10, if Scanlon continues his contract with Argentina.
Paz has successfully carried the number 10 to Cosmo, where former Real Madrid midfielder scored six goals and donated eight assistings in all races.
However, Argentina’s new captain, Romero, has another name in mind. He has proposed his co-player at the club and national, Julian Alvarez, believing that his modesty and devotion to the family outside the football field make him a worthy candidate.
I’d give Julian Alvarez. I don’t know, I see it as a modest person, family and good boy, with all the qualities he possesses, Romero said in an interview for Gastón Edul.
We have many important football players in the national world. He mentions Julian because he has all the qualities he needs to carry in number 10.
Source Layer: Insander
