AFA will pause every match in Argentine football to honor Lionel Messi after his national team retirement. AFA, Argentine football’s governing body, announced a tribute for Lionel Messi across the sport following his retirement from the Argentina national team. The recognition will extend to every match of the league, as well as all other categories and disciplines under the federation’s umbrella, both men’s and women’s. Every fixture will pause at the 10-minute mark of the first half for a full minute of applause, honoring Messi’s more than two-decade career with the Albiceleste. Stadiums equipped with big screens will also play an institutional video chronicling his time with the national team before kickoff. “It is decreed that in the next matchday of all categories of all men’s and women’s disciplines (11-a-side, Futsal, and Beach Soccer), the match will be stopped at the tenth (10th) minute of the first half and one (1) minute of applause will be given in recognition of Lionel Messi’s career with the Argentina national team,” the official bulletin, published under Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia’s leadership, read. Messi’s international career spanned 21 years since his 2005 debut, during which he made 207 appearances, scored 125 goals and provided 68 assists for Argentina. Over that span, he lifted the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal, and the 2005 U-20 World Cup. One life. One legacy.Thank you, Leo 🇦🇷🩵 pic.twitter.com/dF9532jSeI— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) August 31, 2026 Fans push to retire the No. 10, but face a regulatory hurdle The wave of tributes also reignited a request that has circulated among Argentina supporters since Messi’s announcement: retiring the No. 10 jersey permanently in his honor, so no player ever wears it for the national team again. The idea would leave the number forever associated with both Messi and Diego Maradona, the two players most responsible fThe request runs into the same obstacle that blocked it once before. FIFA regulations require official squad lists for tournaments like the World Cup and Copa America to use consecutive numbering from 1 to 26, with a number assigned to every player on the roster, meaning the No. 10 cannot simply be shelved.or turning it into more than just a shirt number. Argentina already tried this exact move ahead of the 2002 World Cup to honor Maradona, but FIFA rejected the request on those same regulatory grounds, and the number continued to be worn by subsequent generations of players.
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With the friendly against China collapsing, Lionel Scaloni is reportedly set to release the first Argentina squad list of the post-Lionel Messi era in the coming days. Lionel Messi‘s retirement announcement marked the end of a historic era for the Argentina national team, but the program must push forward as the Albiceleste begin laying the groundwork for the 2030 World Cup cycle. With an upcoming international break on the horizon, head coach Lionel Scaloni is reportedly preparing to release his first post-Messi squad list in the coming days, even as proposed exhibition fixtures in China have collapsed. The 2026 World Cup cycle has reshaped the international calendar, with FIFA implementing an extended autumn window that allows national teams to schedule up to four matches between late September and early October. Under contract through December 2026, Scaloni remains at the helm to oversee Argentina‘s transition period into the new international cycle. According to reporting from ESPN Argentina insider Federico Bueno, Scaloni will formally present his 26-man roster to the Argentine Football Association (AFA) this Sunday. While Scaloni has managed individual matches without Messi in the past, this submission represents the first official squad selection where the Inter Miami star is permanently unavailable. Argentina’s tour in China collapses Initial plans called for Argentina to travel to Asia for a high-profile tour featuring a friendly against China‘s national team, but negotiations stalled after Chinese organizers insisted on guarantees regarding Messi’s participation. Following the legendary forward’s official departure from international duty, discussions between the parties completely dissolved. Gracias eternas, Leo. Te vamos a amar hasta el final de nuestros días 🩵🤍🩵 pic.twitter.com/7VVV2doDZP— 🇦🇷 Selección Argentina ⭐⭐⭐ (@Argentina) August 31, 2026 Journalistic reports indicate that Argentina will instead play their upcoming slate of friendlies on home soil, though official opponents have not yet been formally confirmed by the federation. While the expanded FIFA window allows for up to four fixtures, the AFA currently has three matches finalized on the calendar. Two of the host venues are set for the capital city of Buenos Aires, with River Plate’s El Monumental and Boca Juniors’ La Bombonera serving as primary sites. The third match is expected to be hosted in an interior province, with a potential fourth fixture slated for the same regional venue. Which 2026 World Cup finalists will be missing? The AFA executive board and Scaloni are yet to meet to determine whether the manager will sign an extension through the next cycle or step aside. In the interim, Scaloni must establish the core of a revamped roster moving toward the 2030 tournament, with several marquee figures from the 2026 World Cup final squad set to be absent. The most prominent omission is naturally Messi, whose announcement on Monday ended a legendary 20-year career with the senior national team. Another crucial leadership void comes in central defense following Nicolas Otamendi‘s decision to step away from international play, which he confirmed prior to the summer tournament. Midfielder Leandro Paredes also cast doubt on his international future, acknowledging that “it’s going to be difficult to continue“ following Messi’s departure. Questions also surround Inter Miami midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, who moved to Major League Soccer to team up with Messi ahead of the World Cup, as the physical demands of another cycle leave his status uncertain heading toward 2030, when he will be 36 years old.
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