Lionel Messi wears jersey number 10 for Argentina’s senior national team. The number has become inseparable from his identity, appearing on the back of his shirt during Argentina’s greatest modern successes.
Messi inherited Argentina’s number 10 after the international career of Diego Maradona, another Argentine attacking legend who wore it with extraordinary distinction. In Argentina, the shirt carries cultural weight: it traditionally represents the team’s chief creator and attacking playmaker.
Messi has worn number 10 for Argentina across multiple World Cups and Copa América tournaments, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar. He also wore it during Argentina’s Copa América victories in 2021 and 2024.
The number is not exclusive to Messi in every context. Squad numbers can vary in youth football, friendlies, or when another player is selected, but for Argentina’s established senior lineup, Messi is the iconic number 10. Numbers 9, 7, and 11 are commonly associated with other attacking roles, not his standard Argentina shirt.