Argentina leaves number ten shirt free ahead of Messi farewell

Squad Changes

Argentina will play Bolivia in Cordoba on Wednesday without assigning the iconic number ten jersey, leaving the shirt vacant until Lionel Messi plays his final match next week. Messi announced the end of his national team career in late August after scoring eight goals in his sixth World Cup, finishing as his country's all-time leading scorer with 125 goals from 207 appearances. Coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed the decision at a press conference, noting that no player is required to wear the number during the current matches against Bolivia, Burkina Faso, and Benin. The farewell fixture takes place on October sixth against Benin at Monumental in Buenos Aires. FourFourTwo reports that the match in Cordoba at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium is set to operate at a reduced capacity of under thirty thousand due to FIFA sanctions over fan chants. Scaloni faces the task of reshaping the team after a one-zero loss to Spain in the World Cup final. The starting lineup is expected to feature Agustín Giay at right-back, Exequiel Palacios stepping in for the suspended Enzo Fernández, and Valentín Barco as a third midfielder. Nicolás Paz will handle playmaking duties in the absence of the team captain, while Scaloni plans to pair up front strikers Julián Álvarez and Lautaro Martínez together for the first time.

Manager Future

Coach Lionel Scaloni is close to renewing his contract past its December thirty-first expiration date following talks with Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia. Scaloni previously considered stepping down after the World Cup final defeat on July nineteenth, but meetings regarding an extension through the 2030 tournament, which Argentina will co-host, changed his stance. The manager highlighted the ongoing hunger and talent within the squad, pointing out that every invited player accepted the call-up for this international window.

Context

Leaving a legendary player's squad number unassigned temporarily is a common gesture of respect in international football before a formal retirement tribute match. National teams frequently use friendly matches during early international windows following major tournaments to test new tactical shapes and younger squad members.