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Lionel Messi’s No. 10 Taken After His Farewell in Argentina
The most iconic jersey in Argentine football will change hands for one night. After Lionel Messi’s farewell at home, the No. 10 will be worn by another World Cup winner in the final qualifier.
The unexpected replacement
Argentina will play its final 2026 World Cup qualifier without Lionel Messi, and that means a symbolic decision: the iconic No. 10 shirt will go to another player. The man chosen by Lionel Scaloni is Thiago Almada, a World Cup champion in Qatar 2022 and former MLS star.
Messi, who scored twice in the 3-0 win over Venezuela at the Monumental, will not travel to Quito for the clash against Ecuador. The coaching staff decided to give him a rest with the final stretch of the season at Inter Miami in mind, where he remains the club’s great hope heading into the MLS run-in.
A dream farewell at the Monumental
Messi’s last World Cup qualifier on Argentine soil was nothing short of a celebration. With his family in the stands and surrounded by banners in his honor, the captain couldn’t hold back tears before kickoff. Then, he let his football do the talking: two goals and a performance that will be remembered as his competitive farewell in front of his home fans.
Although his participation in the 2026 World Cup is not yet confirmed, many interpreted that night as a symbolic goodbye, the closing of a golden cycle with the Albiceleste.
Almada takes the baton
The man tasked with wearing the No. 10 in Quito will be Thiago Almada, the 23-year-old midfielder who made his mark in MLS with Atlanta United before moving to Europe. For him, it’s a special opportunity: not only to represent Argentina in an official match, but to do so while wearing the jersey historically carried by the magic of Maradona and Messi.
His appointment also signals the renewal beginning to emerge within Scaloni’s squad. Almada, already part of the World Cup-winning team in Qatar, now has the chance to showcase his personality on a big stage.
Road to the 2026 World Cup
With qualification already secured, Argentina will look to finish the qualifiers with confidence. While Messi rests to stay fit for Inter Miami, the rest of the squad prepares to take on Ecuador without their leader.
Messi’s absence and the handover of the No. 10 mark a symbolic moment: Argentina begins rehearsing what it will be like to compete without its captain, while the question lingers—will we see him at the 2026 World Cup?
