Lionel Scaloni has decided against assigning Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 shirt to another Argentina player for now, while making clear that Leandro Paredes and Rodrigo De Paul must meet his standards to remain part of the national team’s future.
Speaking after extending his contract until the 2030 World Cup, Scaloni said Argentina would not rush into choosing Messi’s successor. The shirt will remain vacant for the upcoming fixture against Uruguay.
“In this game, we’re not going to give it to anyone. We haven’t thought about who to give it to until it becomes mandatory,” Scaloni said.
The Argentina coach also wants the number to have a permanent owner rather than be passed between several players.
“The day we decide who to give it to, we hope it will be for good and not give the number 10 to different players. That’s the idea,” he added.
Scaloni’s comments came during the announcement of his contract extension, which will keep him in charge through the 2030 World Cup. The agreement followed his successful spell, which included Argentina’s triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The coach also addressed the international futures of two established midfielders who were absent from the latest squad.
Paredes remains in his plans despite serving a 10-match FIFA suspension, with seven matches still to go. Scaloni, however, stressed that the midfielder must regain his fitness and competitive sharpness.
“When he’s fit, he’s the best central midfielder the Argentine national team could have,” he said. “But there’s also no doubt he needs to be fit. He needs to compete at the highest level, train at the highest level and be in top form.”
Scaloni added that Paredes would be considered for selection as soon as he was physically ready, while making clear that regular club appearances alone would not guarantee a place.
De Paul, meanwhile, was left out of the squad for the friendlies against Uruguay and Costa Rica. Scaloni said the door remained open but insisted that the Inter Miami midfielder must rediscover his best level.
“He’s a player who has given us a lot and the door isn’t closed to him,” Scaloni said. “We need the best version of him.”
Argentina face Uruguay at La Bombonera before meeting Costa Rica in Córdoba, as Scaloni begins planning for the next phase of his tenure.
