CORNERFLICK
Lionel Scaloni will leave Argentina's number 10 shirt unassigned until Lionel Messi plays his farewell match. No immediate replacement has been chosen for one of the country's most famous numbers.
Scaloni delays the decision
Scaloni said there is no need to hand out the shirt in the upcoming fixtures, and that Argentina will wait until Messi's farewell game before deciding who wears it next.
"Until Leo's farewell match is played, we are not giving the number 10 to anyone. After that, we will decide who wears it," he said at a press conference before Argentina's friendly against Bolivia. "Our idea is that one of the players will eventually have it, because wearing it has a special value and beauty."
Possible successors remain in the frame
Nico Paz, Franco Mastantuono, Julián Álvarez and Alexis Mac Allister have all been mentioned as possible successors, but no final decision has been made.
The shirt has been worn by Diego Maradona and Messi, and Scaloni said he does not want to hand it on without proper consideration. What happens after Messi's official farewell will determine who gets the number 10 next.