Who Inherits Messi's No. 10? Argentina Star Breaks Down in Tears Ahead of Emotional Farewell Match

Football superstar Lionel Messi was seen breaking down in tears while on the bus carrying the Argentina team to Estadio Más Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, 6 October 2026. It was Messi's final game for the national team, dubbed 'The Night That No One Wants to End.'

Argentina faced Benin in an international friendly in front of a sold-out stadium, which has a seating capacity of 85,018. Tickets for the match sold out within 90 minutes of going on sale.

Who Inherits Messi's No. 10?

As Messi played his final match for the national team after a storied 21-year international career, many cannot help but wonder who will inherit the iconic No. 10 shirt. As iconic as it is, Argentina cannot officially retire the No. 10 for use in FIFA World Cup competitions because of FIFA's squad-number requirements.

Someone is bound to wear the No. 10 Argentina shirt in the future. But it is going to carry a lot of weight and expectations. Messi has worn the No. 10 since 2009 and has become synonymous with its legacy. It was the same number the late Diego Maradona also wore during his stint with the national team.

However, Messi started wearing No. 18 when he joined the Argentina senior national team in 2005 and wore No. 19 at the 2006 World Cup. He also wore No. 15 while leading Argentina to a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

There is no official successor to the No. 10 yet, but the internet will speculate anyway. Some of the names that have come up include Nico Paz, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister.

10th-Minute Stoppage

As proof of how iconic the No. 10 is in Messi's legacy, the Argentina-Benin international friendly was stopped at the 10-minute mark to honour the iconic footballer. The referee stopped the match at the 10th minute as the crowd chanted 'Olé, Olé, Olé' and fireworks lit up the sky.

Benin players approached Messi to hug and celebrate the 'GOAT of football.' Messi officially announced his international retirement on 31 August 2026, penning an emotional letter shared on Instagram.

His final walk on to the pitch was also iconic, as Argentina and Benin players walked on to a fireworks-lined pitch, with a large display of Messi's kit in the middle of the field.

'For the last time, the man that carried the dream of the whole nation on his shoulders...' the commentator said while narrating Messi's entrance to the field alongside the teams.

Hours before his final match, Messi visited the University of Buenos Aires (UBA), where he received an honorary doctorate.

'Being able to receive such recognition is a source of pride for me, especially being able to say that I am an honorary doctor,' Messi said after receiving a medal and diploma.

Neymar's Tribute

Messi's former team-mate and close friend Neymar Jr also took to social media to pen a heartfelt tribute. The post, which was automatically translated into English by X, reads: 'It's not just Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you did for football.'

'Thank you for making me love football even more; it was an honour to have played against you and even more so to make history by your side,' Neymar also said. The pair played together for Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

The night ended on a high note, with Argentina securing a 3–0 win. Messi scored from the penalty spot and assisted goals by Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz in his final international appearance.