Sports
Messi announces Argentina farewell as FIFA rules bar retiring the number 10 and Ronaldo leaves Portugal's camp
October 2, 2026 at 01:29 PM · Updated 14d ago
Coverage
5 reports · 4 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 8 hours
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
لماذا لا تستطيع الأرجنتين حجب الرقم 10 بعد ميسي؟
(opens the publisher’s site)
ESESPN
Lionel Messi arrives in Argentina for farewell match - ESPN
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YKYalla Kora
رفقة عائلته.. ميسي يصل إلى الأرجنتين قبل 4 أيام من الرقصة الأخيرة
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YKYalla Kora
قميص شاغر وآخر انتقل سريعا.. كيف اختلفت نهاية ميسي ورونالدو؟
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KOKooora
لماذا لا تستطيع الأرجنتين حجب الرقم 10 بعد ميسي؟
(opens the publisher’s site)Messi plays his 208th and final Argentina match against Benin on 6 October, with FIFA rules barring the country from retiring the number 10.
- Messi announced his final Argentina appearance will be against Benin at Monumental in Buenos Aires.
- Argentina left the number 10 shirt vacant for the friendly against Bolivia, with Messi set to wear it again.
- FIFA regulations assigning numbers 1–26 at major tournaments prevent Argentina from permanently withdrawing number 10.
- Ronaldo left Portugal's camp after being benched against Norway.
- Messi arrived in Rosario with his family four days before his farewell match against Benin on 6 October.
- Messi confirmed he will retire from international football following the 2026 World Cup.
- Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina were ruled out of Messi's farewell match after AS Roma declined to release them.
- Lionel Messi announced his international retirement on 31 August, having scored 125 goals in 207 caps for Argentina.
- Argentine FA president Claudio Tapia and coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed the number 10 will remain unassigned for the farewell match.
- Twenty-two-year-old midfielder Nico Paz is reportedly favored to inherit the number 10 for Argentina at the 2030 World Cup.