Argentina have decided not to hand Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey to any player during the upcoming international break, leaving the legendary shirt vacant until at least 2027. The decision has sparked fresh discussions over who will eventually inherit the jersey worn by two of Argentina’s greatest football legends, Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.

The No. 10 shirt has always held a special place in Argentine football history. Diego Maradona made it legendary with his extraordinary performances, while Messi carried that legacy forward for nearly two decades. Following Messi’s departure from international football, attention has shifted towards identifying his successor.

However, Argentina’s coaching staff have decided against immediately assigning the shirt to another player. According to reports, the iconic jersey will remain unused during the national team's upcoming international fixtures.

Messi played his farewell match at the Estadio Monumental against Benin last month. Since then, Argentina have been preparing to move into a new chapter without their legendary captain. Naturally, the biggest question surrounding the national team is who will take responsibility for wearing the famous No. 10 shirt.

Argentina are scheduled to face Uruguay on November 14 at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. They will then take on Costa Rica on November 17. Despite these two important friendly matches, neither fixture will feature a new player wearing Messi's iconic number.

According to Argentine sports outlet TyC Sports, there is no obligation to distribute jersey numbers from 1 to 11 in friendly matches. Taking advantage of this flexibility, head coach Lionel Scaloni and his coaching staff have decided to leave the No. 10 shirt vacant throughout the international break.

The decision on Messi's successor is now expected to come in 2027, when the South American World Cup qualifying campaign resumes. Until then, the legendary shirt will remain without an official successor.

Among the potential candidates, Nico Paz is currently considered one of the leading contenders. The attacking midfielder has been enjoying an impressive spell with Italian club Como and has also made a strong impression in recent appearances for Argentina.

Paz has scored in three consecutive friendly matches against Bolivia, Burkina Faso and Benin. He also provided an assist in the match against Bolivia, further strengthening his case for becoming the next player to wear the prestigious jersey.

However, Paz is not the only candidate. Liverpool midfielder Alexis Mac Allister is also in contention. The midfielder has previously worn the No. 10 shirt at club level, making him another potential option for the national team.

Meanwhile, Argentina's new captain Cristian Romero reportedly has a different preference. He believes Julian Alvarez would be a suitable choice to inherit the legendary number.

With several talented players in contention, Argentina's decision is likely to generate considerable debate among supporters. Whether Nico Paz, Mac Allister or Alvarez eventually gets the opportunity remains to be seen. For now, Maradona and Messi's iconic No. 10 jersey will have to wait for its next owner.