Argentina will not hand out Lionel Messi’s iconic No.10 shirt for the upcoming international break.La Albiceleste will begin the post-Messi era in November following his retirement from the national team.Messi was emotional as he waved goodbye to ArgentinaAFPThe eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was given a monumental send-off in a 208th and final appearance in October.He scored 126 goals and won the World Cup in his illustrious international career.The 39-year-old scored in a 3-0 win over Benin in front of a packed out crowd in Buenos Aires.But a report from Tyc Sports in Argentina says no player will wear his No.10 shirt in their upcoming games.Lionel Scaloni’s side will face Uruguay and Costa Rica in two friendlies later in November.Argentina will symbolically omit a No.10 from their squad list as they decide on who to give it to long term.One of their major contenders is Como’s Nico Paz, with the 22-year-old lighting up Serie A and the Champions League this season.Premier League stars Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister are also options.Can Argentina retire Messi’s number?The short answer is no and that is because of FIFA rules.For major competitions, such as the World Cup, teams are required to register players in consecutive numbers.After 208 games and 126 goals, Lionel Messi’s Argentina career is overAFPThis means there can be no numerical gaps in the numbering.The Argentine Football Association (AFA) have already attempted to do it previously.They tried to retire the No.10 jersey following the international retirement of Diego Maradona ahead of the 2002 World Cup.However, this was blocked by FIFA.The same rules do not apply to international friendlies, meaning Argentina can wait before naming their official heir to Messi.Messi’s Argentina retirementMessi scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina including eight goals at this summer’s World Cup.Messi’s No.10 will not be handed out just yetGettyIn a message posted on his Instagram account, Messi said: “After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team.“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deep down — but I understand that the time has come.“I swear to you that I always gave it my all — not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team.“I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.“Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through the good times and the bad — especially the bad).“Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey — so beautiful, yet so difficult.“Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official I’ve shared this path with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you—alongside my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with you all. I love you!“Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Let’s go, Argentina!“*I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before.”