Argentina appear to have made their first major decision of the post-Lionel Messi era. Nico Paz is expected to become the national team's new permanent No.10, taking over the shirt worn by Messi for the best part of two decades.
According to ESPN Argentina journalist Federico Bueno, Lionel Scaloni has identified Paz as the player he wants to inherit the number if he remains in charge of the national team. The decision has reportedly already been discussed internally, with the 21-year-old Como midfielder preferred ahead of more established members of the squad. Paz has worn No.18 during the early stages of his Argentina career, but the plan is for him to take the most famous shirt in Argentine football when the next cycle begins.
It is a huge show of faith in a player who has only just started his international career, but the choice makes sense. Paz is probably the most natural No.10 Argentina have coming through: left-footed, technically gifted, comfortable receiving the ball between the lines and capable of both creating and scoring. His development at Como has made him one of the most exciting young Argentine players in Europe, and he already has a symbolic connection with Messi. On his senior international debut against Bolivia in October 2024, Paz came off the bench and provided the assist for Messi to complete his hat-trick. Giving Paz Messi's shirt and asking him to replace Messi, however, are two very different things.
The No.10 needs an owner, not a new Messi
Comparisons will be unavoidable. This is Argentina, this is the No.10 shirt and the previous two players who defined it were Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. Paz is also a creative left-footer who likes to operate centrally, so every good performance will inevitably produce another headline about Messi's heir. Argentina would be better off ignoring them.
One of the opportunities created by Messi's retirement is that Scaloni can finally build a team without one permanent centre of gravity. For years Argentina's attacking structure naturally revolved around Messi because there was no sensible alternative. When you have the greatest player of his generation, you give him the ball as often as possible and build the rest around him. Paz should not inherit that responsibility simply because he inherits the shirt.
The Argentina waiting for him is also very different from the one Messi entered. Julian Alvarez is 26, Enzo Fernandez is 25, Alexis Mac Allister is 27 and Lautaro Martinez is 29. These are established elite players, not supporting characters waiting for a new superstar to lead them. There is also another generation developing behind them, with Paz among its most exciting members rather than its only hope.
That could make the new No.10's job easier. Paz can be allowed to become an important player for Argentina without having to become the player for Argentina. He can create between the lines, combine with Alvarez, link with the midfield and decide matches when the opportunity comes. On another night, Mac Allister, Enzo, Lautaro or Alvarez can do it instead. For opponents, that may eventually present a very different problem. Preparing for Argentina during the Messi era always began with the same question: how do you limit Messi? There was rarely a convincing answer, but at least everyone knew where the greatest threat was coming from. The next Argentina could be far less obvious.
Scaloni's decision says plenty about Paz
There is still another issue hanging over the story. Scaloni has not yet committed his long-term future to Argentina and has spoken openly about needing time to decide whether he has the energy to build another team after the end of the Messi era. Reports that Paz has already been selected for the No.10 therefore reveal something about how Scaloni sees the next cycle.
He is not looking for a temporary owner of the shirt. At 21, Paz is a choice for years rather than months, and the decision suggests Argentina see him as one of the players around whom the next generation can develop, even if the team itself no longer revolves around a single superstar.
The symbolism will still be enormous. Messi wore Argentina's No.10 from 2009 and eventually transformed a shirt already synonymous with Maradona into one equally associated with himself. Whoever puts it on next was always going to attract attention. Paz has the talent, the profile and, apparently, Scaloni's trust to take it. What Argentina should not give him is the impossible job that comes with the inevitable label: the No.10 shirt needs a new owner, but Argentina do not need a new Lionel Messi.
Published by Patrick Jane
02.09.2026