Argentina may retire Messi’s No. 10 jersey for official games.

Argentina is preparing for a different kind of international window.

Lionel Messi has stepped away from the national team after a farewell match against Benin.

With him goes the player who carried the most iconic number in Albiceleste history for two decades.

The question now is what happens to the shirt he leaves behind.

According to Argentine outlet TyC Sports, Messi’s No.10 will not be used by any other player in the upcoming international break.

The decision was made by head coach Lionel Scaloni.

Scaloni is waiting to pick the “next” number 10 for Argentina.

The gesture is possible because the November matches are friendlies.

FIFA does not require squads to use consecutive numbers in friendlies.

That allows Scaloni to leave the shirt untouched for now.

It is a symbolic tribute to the player who retired as the national team’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.

The answer for official competition, however, is different.

FIFA rules require World Cup and Copa America squad lists to use consecutive numbers from 1 to 26.

A number must be assigned to every player on the roster.

That means Argentina cannot leave the No.10 unused or retire it for official tournaments.

No matter how symbolic the gesture would be.

This is not the first time Argentina has run into this wall.

Ahead of the 2002 World Cup, the AFA tried to retire the No.10 as a tribute to Diego Maradona.

Maradona’s career had already turned the shirt into much more than a number.

The federation even proposed a squad numbered up to 24 that would skip the No.10.

But FIFA rejected the request.

The reason was the consecutive-numbering rule.

As a result, the shirt kept being worn by later generations of Argentine players.

Ariel Ortega wore it in 2002.

Eventually it reached Messi.

With the same regulation still in place, any renewed push to retire it in his honor would face the same outcome.

The bigger question will arrive when Argentina returns to official competition.

Who takes the shirt next?

Nico Paz is the name most often mentioned.

The Como 1907 playmaker operates in a similar position to Messi.

He wears the same number at his club.

The doubt is whether a 22-year-old can handle the weight of that number so early in his international career.

The contrast with Cristiano Ronaldo’s exit is stark.

Ronaldo’s Portugal career ended in acrimony.

He walked out on his last international call-up after a bitter fallout with coach Jorge Jesus.

He was later fined and suspended.