The number 10 shirt must not retire with Messi

By Ezequiel Fernández Moores. Argentine sports journalist, author and columnist.

What happened

When Lionel Messi confirmed his retirement from the Argentina national team last Monday, the reaction bordered on national mourning. Children cried in schools, journalists shed tears on television, newspapers filled their pages with emotional tributes and a telephone line was even opened for fans to express their gratitude to their idol. All weekend matches in Argentina were briefly halted in the tenth minute as a tribute to the idol.

"I emptied myself. I have nothing more to offer, " Messi wrote in his farewell.

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around the number 10 shirt must not retire with Messi point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.