Hossen Sohel: Argentina interim coach Lionel Scaloni has said that the Albiceleste are keeping the number ten shirt reserved for Lionel Messi as they hold on to hope that their genius playmaker will once again don the shirt when he returns to the national team fold.
The diminutive playmaker has not had the best of World Cups as Argentina exited from the tournament at the Round of 16 stage to eventual winners France. He played his part with two assists in a World Cup classic in the last-16 tie but it was not enough to save Argentina’s fragile defence from the firepower of France and, in particular, 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe in a 4-3 defeat. Messi did not clarify his international future with Argentina after the World Cup.
Messi did not avail himself for international friendlies against Guatemala and Colombia with reports saying that he is on an international break and will not play with the national team this year.
Messi’s Argentina shirt however is not up for grabs. “There is only one answer for your question: every player who was in the World Cup kept his number, the ones who came here,” coach Scaloni replied when asked about Messi and his shirt.
“In this time, the 10 shirt belongs to Messi and it will stay this way until he decides if he will continue with us or not.”