Argentina have built an era around Lionel Messi. But as the legendary captain moves closer to the end of his international career, one question is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore: who will wear the No. 10 shirt after him?
For more than a decade, Argentina’s No. 10 shirt has been synonymous with Messi. From his dazzling dribbles and precise passing to his goals on the biggest international stages, the shirt has become almost inseparable from the superstar.
But football eventually demands a new chapter.
Messi’s influence on Argentina is unlikely to be replaced by a single player. His extraordinary combination of creativity, leadership and goalscoring has made him virtually impossible to replicate.
Instead, Argentina may have to build a new attacking identity around a group of emerging stars.
One name likely to remain central to that conversation is Julián Álvarez. The forward has already established himself as an important part of Argentina’s attack, combining intelligent movement with his ability to score and link play.
Then there is Thiago Almada, a naturally creative attacking midfielder whose technical ability and flair make him an intriguing candidate for a more prominent role. Almada has the qualities to operate between midfield and attack, although succeeding Messi as Argentina’s chief creator would bring enormous expectations.
Paulo Dybala, when available, has also demonstrated the technical quality associated with the No. 10 role. However, Argentina’s next generation could ultimately determine who becomes the long-term heir to Messi’s famous shirt.
The challenge for head coach Lionel Scaloni will not simply be finding another player capable of wearing No. 10. It will be developing a team capable of thriving without Messi’s unique influence.
Argentina have already shown they can compete at the highest level as a collective. Their next challenge is maintaining that identity when their greatest individual talent is no longer leading the attack.
Whoever eventually inherits the No. 10 shirt will therefore face an impossible comparison.