A new chapter for Argentina without Messi; the No. 10 jersey to remain vacant for the Bolivia match.

"The team is greater than the individual"—this common football adage seems to be taking on a slightly different meaning for Argentina right now. Lionel Messi is on the verge of retiring from the national team, and as his final international match approaches, he remains the central figure in discussions surrounding the squad.

Argentina is set to take the field for the first time since the 2026 World Cup. On Wednesday (September 30) at 6:00 AM (Bangladesh time), Lionel Scaloni’s team will face Bolivia at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba. Subsequently, Argentina will play against Burkina Faso at the Monumental in Buenos Aires on October 3, followed by a match against Benin at the same venue on October 6. The latter will mark Messi's farewell match for the national team.

Messi’s No. 10 jersey to remain unassigned for now

Messi will not play against Bolivia or Burkina Faso. In his absence, one of the most discussed questions is: who will wear Argentina’s iconic No. 10 jersey?

Scaloni has stated that the jersey will not be assigned to anyone for the time being. This means Argentina’s No. 10 jersey will remain vacant until Messi’s final match. However, the Argentine coach indicated that another player would wear the number in the future.

The essence of Scaloni’s statement is that he sees no need to hand the No. 10 jersey to anyone else before Messi’s farewell match. In his view, wearing that jersey is a special honor, and it will be awarded to a suitable player down the line.

Argentina must adapt to playing without Messi

Since making his national team debut in 2005, Argentina has played many matches without Messi due to injuries, rest, or other reasons. However, the situation is different this time. Messi is not merely missing a single match; he has announced the end of his international career. Nevertheless, arrangements have been made for him to take the field for his farewell match against Benin on October 6.

Consequently, discussions have begun regarding Argentina’s style of play in the post-Messi era. Scaloni stated directly, "We will find a way to play differently."

However, the Argentine coach’s plans still rely heavily on the team maintaining possession of the ball. However, he views these matches as a test of how to structure the attack without a creative player like Messi.

Changes to the probable XI against Bolivia

Scaloni plans to field Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez together against Bolivia. Most of the players who featured in the World Cup final are likely to play in this match.

Enzo Fernández will be suspended due to the red card he received in the World Cup final; Exequiel Palacios could take his place. Valentín Barco might feature in midfield, while Nico Paz could step in as the attacking midfielder in Messi's absence.

All in all, the match against Bolivia is not just Argentina's first game since the World Cup, but also the first test of the post-Messi era. That is precisely why, even though he is not on the pitch, Messi remains the focal point of the conversation.