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AFA have decided they will honour Lionel Messi's legacy with the Albiceleste by retiring the iconic number 10 jersey.
The Argentine Football Federation (AFA) has decided to retire the number 10 jersey when the current captain and occupant of the iconic number, Lionel Messi, calls time on his time with the Albiceleste, years after attempting to do the same for Diego Maradona.
Maradona donned the number 10 jersey as he led Argentina to their second Mundial triumph at the 1986 edition of the tournament. He was undoubtedly the greatest Argentine footballer ever before the advent of Messi, and following his retirement, the AFA attempted to retire the number.
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However, they had to put the kit number back in use during the 2002 World Cup due to a FIFA ruling that mandated teams to occupy jersey numbers 1-27 for international tournaments.
AFA to retire number 10 after Messi
Lionel Messi has replicated Maradona’s achievements with the number 10 jersey for Argentina, as he led the Albiceleste to their third World Cup title.
Messi did so in spectacular fashion, picking up the Player of the Tournament Award as well as being only one goal shy of the Golden Boot for the tournament.
Hence, the president of the AFA, Claudio Chuqui Tapia, has announced that when Messi retires, the number 10 jersey will follow suit.
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"When Messi retires from the national team, we will not allow anyone else to wear the number 10 after him,” he said, per Marca. This number '10' will be retired for life in his honour. It's the least we can do for him."
Messi is well into the twilight of his career, but he is expected to lead the Albiceleste into next year's Copa America for a chance to defend the title they won at the Maracana in 2021.
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