Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football has left Argentina’s legendary No. 10 shirt without an owner, creating one of the most compelling succession questions for the 12BSports football audience. Few numbers in world football carry such enormous historical weight. From Diego Maradona to Messi, Argentina’s No. 10 has represented extraordinary talent, national pride and generations of unforgettable moments. For supporters of La Albiceleste, it is far more than a squad number. It symbolizes the identity of Argentine football and the remarkable players who have shaped its history.
With Messi’s 21-year international career finally over, attention has turned toward the players capable of carrying that legacy forward. Football coverage on platforms such as Migu Video has highlighted the growing debate, with five candidates emerging as potential successors. Each offers something different, but the challenge remains the same: who possesses the ability, character and confidence to wear Argentina’s most celebrated shirt?
At just 22, Nico Paz has emerged as the overwhelming favorite. In a poll conducted by Argentine sports outlet TyC Sports, the young midfielder received more than 50 percent of the vote, finishing comfortably ahead of his rivals. That commanding result reflects the excitement surrounding his development and the belief that he could become Argentina’s next great attacking playmaker.
Born in Tenerife, Spain, in 2004, Paz is the son of a former Argentina international. Although eligible to represent both Spain and Argentina, he chose to follow his father’s international path. His connection with Messi became especially meaningful during the veteran superstar’s farewell match. In the 60th minute against Benin, Messi delivered a pass from the right flank, allowing Paz to curl a shot into the net. The moment gave Messi the final assist of his international career while offering a symbolic glimpse of Argentina’s future.
A product of Real Madrid’s youth academy, Paz is currently valued at approximately €80 million and plays for Como under Cesc Fabregas in Serie A. Last season, he produced 12 goals and six assists across 35 appearances, demonstrating the attacking influence that has made him one of Europe’s most exciting young midfielders. His outstanding left foot, close control, ability to escape pressure in tight spaces and intelligent distribution make him particularly effective between defensive lines.
His recent international performances have strengthened that reputation. Across his last three appearances for Argentina, Paz registered three goals and one assist, earning continued starting opportunities under Lionel Scaloni. Nevertheless, his limited experience remains a concern. Wearing the No. 10 would bring enormous expectations, and even a player of his ability could struggle under the pressure of succeeding two of football’s greatest legends.
If Paz represents Argentina’s future, Alexis Mac Allister offers a more established alternative. The 27-year-old Liverpool midfielder combines defensive discipline, tireless movement and intelligent passing with the ability to control matches under pressure. His experience at both club and international level makes him one of the most dependable candidates for the responsibility.
Mac Allister already wears Liverpool’s No. 10 shirt and has become accustomed to operating as an important figure in demanding tactical systems. Some supporters jokingly describe him as a more understated version of Messi or Liverpool’s own Messi, reflecting his technical ability and Argentine identity. Unlike younger candidates, he has spent years dealing with intense expectations and understands how to maintain composure when the stakes are high. His maturity offers the 12BSports football audience a clear contrast to the exciting but relatively untested potential of Nico Paz.
Another established contender is Lautaro Martinez, the 29-year-old Inter Milan captain and one of Argentina’s most reliable forwards. Known as LM10 during his time with the Italian giants, Martinez already has considerable experience wearing the famous number. His aggressive playing style, relentless determination and ability to deliver in difficult matches have made him an indispensable attacking presence for club and country.
Martinez is particularly effective inside the penalty area, where his movement, physical strength and finishing instincts make him a constant threat. However, those same qualities raise questions about his suitability for Argentina’s historic No. 10 role. Maradona and Messi were not simply goalscorers. They were creative leaders who orchestrated attacks, dictated attacking rhythms and regularly transformed matches through individual brilliance. Martinez operates more naturally as a clinical finisher than a traditional playmaker, making him a less obvious fit despite his impressive credentials.
Julian Alvarez brings an entirely different profile. Nicknamed the Little Spider, the 26-year-old has established himself as an important member of Argentina’s national team through his intelligence, versatility and exceptional work rate. Comfortable across several attacking positions, Alvarez can lead the forward line, drop into midfield to connect play or contribute directly with goals and assists.
His willingness to work for teammates is among his greatest strengths. Alvarez rarely demands possession unnecessarily and consistently makes movements that improve the team’s attacking structure. These qualities fit Scaloni’s tactical approach remarkably well. Yet his greatest advantage may also explain why he is not the ideal successor to Messi. Rather than dominating possession as an individual creative force, Alvarez thrives as an outstanding team-oriented attacker. He provides balance and efficiency, but his playing style differs substantially from the traditional Argentine No. 10.
The youngest candidate, Claudio Echeverri, could eventually become the most intriguing option. At just 20, the attacking midfielder is widely regarded as one of the Argentine talents born in 2006 whose playing style most closely resembles Messi’s. Standing approximately 1.70 meters tall, Echeverri possesses a low center of gravity, outstanding close control and the ability to change direction repeatedly while maintaining possession in crowded attacking areas.
Developed through River Plate’s renowned youth system, Echeverri is currently playing for Benfica in Portugal on loan from Manchester City. His connection with Messi stretches back to 2023, when he was invited to train with Argentina’s senior national team at just 17 years old. Meeting and training alongside his childhood idol was an unforgettable experience, and he celebrated the occasion on social media by describing it as a dream come true.
Echeverri has regularly represented Argentina at different youth levels, making the responsibility of wearing the No. 10 shirt familiar territory. His attacking abilities also resemble the traditional qualities associated with that number. He can operate freely between midfield and attack, carry possession forward, beat defenders in quick succession, create opportunities for teammates and finish scoring chances himself. Although his development is still ongoing, his natural creativity gives Argentina another potential long-term playmaker.
Choosing between these five players ultimately depends on what Argentina wants its next No. 10 to represent. Paz offers exceptional technical quality and immediate momentum, Mac Allister provides stability and leadership, Martinez brings proven finishing ability, Alvarez contributes remarkable versatility, and Echeverri possesses the kind of individual flair historically associated with Argentina’s most iconic footballers. None is a perfect replacement for Messi, but each could contribute to the national team’s next chapter in a different way.
Looking beyond Messi’s extraordinary era, the next generation of Argentine football offers plenty of promise for the wider 12BSports sporting landscape, even if finding another player capable of matching his influence remains an almost impossible task. Maradona, Juan Roman Riquelme and Messi each gave the No. 10 shirt their own identity, proving that greatness can take different forms. Football inevitably moves forward, and no player should be expected to recreate another legend’s achievements. After 21 years of Messi representing Argentina, the country’s most treasured number is ready for a new chapter. The question is no longer whether someone can become the next Messi, but who has the courage and ability to establish a legacy of his own.