Lionel Messi (foto: Nogomania)
Lionel Messi has retired from international football at 39, and Argentina have reportedly already decided who will inherit the country's most iconic shirt.
Spremljajte Nogomanio kot prednostni vir na Googlu
Dodajte Nogomanio med priljubjene vire v Google News in
prejemajte najpomembnejše nogometne novice med prvimi.
Lionel Messi's No.10 shirt will not remain without an owner for long. Argentina have reportedly already identified the player they want to inherit the legendary number following Messi's retirement from international football.
The 39-year-old ended his extraordinary Argentina career this week after scoring 125 goals in 207 appearances and winning the World Cup and two Copa America titles.
Messi had previously retired from international football in 2016 following painful defeats in two Copa America finals and the 2014 World Cup final, only to reverse his decision. What followed was the most successful period of his international career.
Now Argentina face the enormous symbolic question of who should follow Messi – and before him Diego Maradona – in wearing the country's famous No.10 shirt.
Argentina reportedly choose Nico Paz
According to ESPN Argentina, the decision has already been made internally. If Lionel Scaloni extends his contract as expected, Nico Paz is set to become Argentina's new No.10.
"If Scaloni renews as Argentina's coach, which is expected to be negotiated in the coming months, the No.10 shirt will go to Nico Paz. This has already been decided internally and is being taken very seriously," the report stated.
Paz is only 21 years old but has already collected 11 senior caps for Argentina and established himself as one of Europe's most exciting young attacking midfielders. He currently plays for Cesc Fabregas at Como.
Born in Spain, Paz developed at Real Madrid after joining their academy from Tenerife. He was eligible for Spain through his mother and birthplace but chose Argentina, the country represented by his father Pablo Paz at the 1998 World Cup.
Real Madrid had been expected to bring Paz back this summer through a buy-back clause, but instead reached a new agreement with Como. The Italian club retained the midfielder in a package valued at around £50m, while Madrid secured a new £68.6m buy-back option that becomes valid in 2027.
Replacing Messi is impossible. But if the reports from Argentina are correct, the responsibility of wearing the shirt previously carried by Maradona and Messi is about to fall on the shoulders of a 21-year-old rising star.