Messi’s iconic No.10 successor revealed as 21-year-old star set to inherit legendary shirt if one condition is met

Nico Paz could inherit Argentina’s iconic number 10 shirt from Messi, but one condition must be met first/ Image: Instagram After Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football, Argentina have one of the most difficult jerseys in world football. No.10 belonged to Messi for years after previously carrying Diego Maradona’s legacy, and the player who chose it is said to be one of Argentina’s brightest young talents. Nico Paz has emerged as the heralded successor to the iconic shirt, but there is one important condition attached to the plan.

Nico Paz has reportedly decided to inherit Messi’s number 10

According to ESPN Argentina, Argentina have already identified Paz as the player they want to hand Messi’s number 10 shirt to, although the decision is linked to Scaloni’s future with the national team.The 21-year-old attacking midfielder previously wore the number 18 during his 11 matches for Argentina, but could now take on the number associated with two of the best footballers in the country’s history.ESPN Argentina insider Federico Bueno said the plan has already been decided internally and is being taken seriously.“If Scaloni is reinstated as Argentina coach, which is expected to be negotiated in the coming months, the number 10 jersey will go to Nico Paz. This has already been decided internally and is being taken very seriously,” said Bueno.This means that Paz’s succession to Messi is not yet unconditional. Scaloni’s contract situation must be resolved first, with the 48-year-old expected to negotiate a new contract in the coming months.Scaloni has been Argentina’s head coach since 2018 and oversaw the team’s journey to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar before guiding them to the World Cup finals in 2026. If he agrees to continue in the role, Paz should become the next number 10.

Why Paz emerged as the choice

There are more established names in Argentina’s squad that could be considered for such an iconic shirt, including Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister, but the reported succession plan points to Paz as the player seen as capable of leading the next generation.Paz, 21, was born in Spain but is the son of former Argentina international Pablo Paz. He came through Real Madrid’s academy and made eight appearances for the Spanish giants’ first team before leaving for Italian club Como in 2024.His development in Serie A has accelerated under former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas, and Paz has established himself as one of the most exciting young attacking players in European football.He made 77 appearances for Como in all competitions, scoring 19 goals, while his performances have repeatedly fueled speculation that Real Madrid could bring him back to the Bernabeu.A return to Madrid has reportedly been tipped in virtually every transfer window since his departure, underlining how highly the Spanish club continue to value the player they have developed.For Argentina, however, its development took on a different meaning.Paz has already made 11 senior starts and is now thought to carry much more weight than just being another attacking option in the squad.

Messi leaves behind a huge legacy

Whoever makes the number 10 will inevitably be compared to Messi, although Argentina’s next generation has no realistic way of reproducing what the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has achieved.Messi leaves the national team as a former world champion who captained Argentina to glory in Qatar in 2022, and as the country’s long-time No. 10 and leader.He leaves after 207 international caps and has built a legacy that also places him as the second highest goalscorer in World Cup history.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) cries at the end of the World Cup soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

His decision came after Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey, with Messi making it clear he felt his international journey had reached its natural end.“It was a decision that hurt – and it still hurts deep inside – but I understand that the time has come,” Messi said in his retirement statement.“I swear to you that I always gave everything – not only in these last years when we won everything, but also before; I always fought for this shirt and left everything on the pitch to bring you joy and to make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”“Time is running out, chapters are coming to an end and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved and will always love to be part of the national team.”“I gave it everything I had; I have nothing more to give, and on top of that, there are great young players coming in who deserve to be here.”

A huge t-shirt for the next generation of Argentina

The meaning of the number 10 means that Paz will not simply inherit the team number.The Argentina shirt already carried the weight of Diego Maradona, who famously wore it during their World Cup-winning campaign in 1986, before Messi created his own extraordinary chapter in numbers.That makes the decision to give it to the 21-year-old a significant statement about how Argentina sees Paz’s potential.Playful playmaker Como is still in the early stages of his international career, with only 11 caps under his belt and was never expected to simply replace Messi as a player. The announced decision instead reflects the belief that he can become one of the central figures in Argentina’s post-Messi era.There is one more obstacle before such a succession can take place.First, Scaloni’s future must be resolved. If the World Cup-winning coach agrees to a new contract, the announced plan is for Paz to switch from the number 18 he wore during his early international career to Messi’s iconic number 10.For now, this remains an announced internal decision rather than an officially confirmed shirt change. But if Scaloni stays, Paz looks set to become the young Argentine entrusted with carrying the most famous number in the country’s football history into the next era.