AFA will retire jersey number 10 once Messi hangs up his boots

Buenos Aires: The Argentina Football Association (AFA) has informed that it will retire Lionel Messi’s No: 10 jersey once the footballer hangs up boots. 

“If Messi retires, no one in the national side will be given the number 10 jersey. In honour of Messi, we will retire the No:10 jersey then. It’s the smallest thing that we can do in return for what the man has done for us over the years,” said Claudio Fabián Tapia, President of the Argentina Football Association. 

Lionel Messi, who is a World Cup winner has so far scored 106 goals for his country in 186 appearances.

Earlier in 2002, AFA had tried to retire the No: 10 jersey worn by the legendary Diego Maradona. However, FIFA rules back then did not allow them to do so.