Argentina prepares for life after Lionel Messi, with the weight of the No.10 shirt and the search for his successor taking centre stage.
Finding a worthy successor for Lionel Messi will be a daunting task for La Albiceleste, but there are some promising candidates. On Tuesday night, at River Plate's famous Estadio Monumental, Lionel Messi will make his 208th—and final—appearance for Argentina. Messi's sponsor, adidas, has designed a commemorative farewell jersey for the 39-year-old to wear against Benin, with his name and number drenched in gold, symbolizing his invaluable contributions to the national team over the past 21 years.
There won't be a dry eye in the house. Messi is stepping down from Argentina duty as their most-capped player and all-time top goal-scorer with 125 goals. He inspired his country to their third World Cup crown and back-to-back Copa America titles. He came agonizingly close to bowing out with a second World Cup winners' medal in the summer, scoring eight goals en route to Argentina's eventual final defeat against Spain. Tragically, Messi lost his father after the tournament and ultimately decided to retire, feeling he had "nothing left to give."
Suffice it to say, no one can fill Messi's boots. In the eyes of many, he's the greatest player to ever grace a football field, and there may never be another who matches him for pure, God-given talent. But the No.10 shirt has to be passed on to someone, and Argentina has to find a way to remain an elite force without their talismanic captain.
The legacy of Messi and Maradona means whoever gets the jersey will inherit instant pressure and sky-high expectations. Argentina fans have been through this once already. After Diego Maradona called time on his career in 1994, La Albiceleste went through a period of tactical experimentation and immense under-achievement. They exited the 1998 World Cup at the quarter-final stage before failing to get out of their group four years later. They were sent packing at the quarter-finals of three successive Copa Americas, too, and lost in the 2004 final on penalties to a second-string Brazil side.
Pablo Aimar, Ariel Ortega, and Juan Roman Riquelme all took Maradona's iconic No.10 jersey for a time. They were fine players, but the weight of it ultimately proved too great. Maradona was quite literally a God to Argentina fans; an endlessly charismatic and creative footballer who masterminded their 1986 World Cup triumph. It seemed impossible that anyone would ever follow in his footsteps until Messi made his debut in 2005.
Riquelme initially kept the No.10 and won Olympic Gold alongside Messi before retiring in 2009, at which point he passed it on to the Barcelona maestro. It took time for Messi to convince a large portion of Argentina fans that he could live up to Maradona's legacy, but he got there eventually, evolving from a quiet playmaker to a fearsome leader. Messi made the No.10 his own and, against all odds, became as popular—if not more so—than Maradona in his homeland.
Surely, though, lightning cannot strike three times? It will be a surprise if Argentina doesn't go through another frustrating transitional phase, and no one in Lionel Scaloni's current squad immediately jumps out as being worthy of Messi's shirt. However, there are some young talents who might rise to the occasion:
Julián Álvarez: The Manchester City forward is known for his speed, agility, and goal-scoring ability. At 23, he has already shown promise on the international stage.
Thiago Almada: The Atlanta United midfielder is a creative force with the potential to develop into a playmaker worthy of the No.10.
Alejandro Garnacho: The young Manchester United winger has displayed flair and technical skill, capturing the attention of fans and analysts alike.
These players, while promising, will have to navigate the immense pressure that comes with wearing the No.10, a number that carries the hopes and dreams of an entire nation. As Argentina embarks on this new chapter, the task at hand is to build a team that can harness the talents of its future stars, ensuring that the spirit of Messi and Maradona continues to inspire for generations to come.
Sign in to join the discussion.