Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona’s ‘heaviest ever’ number 10 shirt going to Argentina wonderkid after ‘internal’ talks

ARGENTINA already have their eyes on the man to take over Lionel Messi’s sacred number 10 jersey. The living legend announced his retirement from international football this week at the age of 39. Lionel Messi said he had ‘no more left to give’ after retiring from international duty Lionel Messi of Argentina and Nico Paz during the 2026 FIFA World Cup game against Jordan Credit: Getty Many people forget Messi retired from playing for his country before back in 2016. After losing two Copa America finals in a row either side of the 2014 World Cup final, Messi decided to walk away from international duty before reversing his decision, and a decade of dominance followed. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! He finished with 125 goals in 207 caps with a World Cup and two Copa Americas to his name. Of course, Messi follows on from another all-time great of the game and national hero Diego Maradona, who also wore the esteemed number 10. According to ESPN Argentina, boss Lionel Scaloni already knows the star he will have fill the void of the legendary number 10 jersey. “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.” Paz is still only 21-years-old, but he already has 11 caps for his country and has emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in Europe. He currently plays under Cesc Fabregas with Como in Italy. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Messi probably had a good idea that Paz was the heir to his throne Credit: Getty He was actually born in Spain and Real Madrid pinched him from Tenerife as a teenager and brought him through their academy. But, he is the son of former Argentine international Pablo Paz, who played at the 1998 Fifa World Cup. His mum is Spanish and his father was playing in the country when he was born. Real Madrid had a buy-back clause with Paz and it was believed they would re-sign him this summer, but in the end, they worked out a deal with Como. The Italians kept the attacking midfielder for a fee package valued at £50 million. The restructured deal removed previous buy-back/sell-on clauses and secured a new £68.6 million buy-back option for Real Madrid valid for 2027. Comment now