You’ve seen the photos from Qatar. Lionel Messi, hoisted on shoulders, draped in a black bisht, clutching the golden trophy while the white and light-blue stripes of the Argentina kit shine under the stadium lights. On his back, the number 10. It’s a number that feels like it was etched into his skin at birth, a symbol so powerful that the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has already announced they plan to retire it the second he hangs up his boots.
But here is the thing: the number 10 wasn't always his.
Honestly, the journey to that iconic "10" was kinda messy. It involved giant egos, weird FIFA regulations, and a few other numbers that most casual fans have totally forgotten about. If you think Messi just walked into the locker room in 2005 and demanded the shirt Diego Maradona made famous, you’re in for a surprise.
The Debut Disaster and the Number 18
When a skinny, long-haired teenager from Rosario made his senior debut for the Albiceleste on August 17, 2005, he wasn't wearing 10. He walked onto the pitch against Hungary wearing the number 18.
It lasted exactly 44 seconds.
Messi came on as a substitute, got into a tangle with a defender, swung an arm, and saw a straight red card. He spent his first minutes as a senior international player crying in the dressing room, still wearing that number 18 shirt. For a long time, 18 was his "waiting room" number. He wore it because the big stars—the guys who had "earned" their stripes—held the lower, more prestigious digits.
What about the number 19?
A lot of people remember Messi wearing 19, and they're right. That was his primary number during the 2006 World Cup in Germany. At the time, the legendary Juan Román Riquelme owned the 10. You didn't just take the shirt from Riquelme; he was the cerebral heart of that team. Messi was the "Project," the spark plug off the bench.
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- 2005-2006: Messi oscillates between 18 and 19.
- World Cup 2006: He officially dons the 19, scoring his first World Cup goal against Serbia and Montenegro.
- Copa América 2007: Still 19. He scores a ridiculous chip against Mexico, but the final ends in heartbreak.
The number 19 actually has a bit of a cult following now. If you go to a stadium today, you’ll see vintage "Messi 19" shirts everywhere. It represents the "Young Messi"—the one who could dribble through a brick wall without breaking a sweat.
The Night Everything Changed: October 2008
The transition to the Lionel Messi Argentina number 10 didn't happen because of a marketing meeting. It happened because of Diego Maradona.
When Maradona took over as the national team coach in 2008, he didn't mince words. He told Messi that the 10 was his. Riquelme had stepped away from the team following a fallout with Maradona, leaving the most sacred jersey in South American sports vacant.
Messi first wore the 10 in a formal capacity during a World Cup qualifier against Venezuela on March 28, 2009. He scored, Argentina won 4-0, and the era of the "Atomic Flea" in the playmaker's shirt began in earnest.
The Olympic "15" Outlier
Wait, there’s another one.
In 2008, Messi went to Beijing for the Olympics. Because of weird squad registration rules and the fact that the Olympic team is technically an Under-23 side with three overage exceptions, the numbering got funky. Messi ended up wearing number 15.
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He won the Gold Medal in that shirt. It’s one of the rarest Messi Argentina jerseys you can find, and honestly, it looks a bit "off" seeing him celebrate with a 15 on his chest. But that tournament was crucial; it was the first time he and Angel Di Maria really clicked on the global stage.
Can Argentina actually retire the number 10?
This is where things get legally complicated. Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, the president of the AFA, has been very vocal about retiring the number 10 once Messi retires.
"When Messi retires from the national team, we will not allow anyone else to wear the number 10 after him," Tapia told reporters in early 2024.
Sounds great, right? But FIFA is kinda the "fun police" when it comes to this stuff.
For major tournaments like the World Cup, FIFA rules strictly dictate that squads must be numbered 1 through 23 (or 26, as of recent changes). If Argentina refuses to assign the number 10, they might be forced to play with a 25-man squad instead of 26. They tried to retire the number 10 for Maradona back in 2002, and FIFA basically said, "Nice try, but no." Ariel Ortega ended up wearing it instead.
Whether the AFA can bully FIFA into an exception for Messi remains to be seen.
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Every Number Messi Has Worn for Argentina
If you’re a collector or just a nerd for stats, here is the breakdown of the shirts he’s actually pulled over his head in official matches:
- Number 18: His debut and various early qualifiers.
- Number 19: His first World Cup and the 2007 Copa América.
- Number 15: The 2008 Beijing Olympics (Gold Medal).
- Number 10: 2009 to the present day.
There have also been times when he didn't play, and other players "borrowed" the 10. For instance, players like Angel Correa or even Sergio Agüero have worn it during qualifiers when Messi was sidelined with an injury. It always looks weird. Like seeing someone else driving your dad’s car.
The Weight of the Shirt
Wearing the 10 for Argentina isn't like wearing the 10 for a club. In Argentina, the Enganche (the hook) is a cultural position. It’s the player who connects the midfield to the attack. It’s the player who is expected to provide the "magic."
For a decade, that number felt like a curse for Messi. People compared him to Maradona constantly. "Diego won a World Cup in that shirt; why haven't you?"
That all changed in 2021 with the Copa América win at the Maracanã, followed by the Finalissima, and finally, the 2022 World Cup. The Lionel Messi Argentina number 10 is no longer a shadow he lives in; it’s a light he created.
What happens next?
If you're looking to buy a jersey or understand the legacy, here is what you need to keep in mind:
- Check the Stars: Any "Messi 10" shirt bought after December 2022 should have three stars above the AFA crest. If it has two, it’s a "pre-glory" vintage or a replica of the older style.
- The Retirement Factor: If you want a piece of history, the current 2024/2026 kit cycle might be the last time the 10 is ever officially issued by Argentina.
- Authenticity: Real match-issue jerseys (Authentic) have heat-pressed logos and a slimmer fit, while "Stadium" versions have embroidered patches.
The number 10 will always belong to Messi in the hearts of Argentines, whether FIFA allows the AFA to officially retire it or not. It represents the transition from a shy kid in a baggy number 18 to the undisputed Greatest of All Time.
If you're following the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, keep an eye on the team sheets. Every time you see that "10" on the pitch, you're watching the end of an era that will likely never be repeated. Grab a jersey now, because once he’s gone, that specific combination of name and number becomes a museum piece.