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Lionel Scaloni identifies Nico Paz as heir to Messi’s No. 10 jersey
The 21-year-old Como midfielder is being groomed to carry Argentina's most iconic shirt number into the post-Messi era
Replacing Lionel Messi is the kind of job description that makes “impossible” feel like an understatement. But someone has to wear the shirt, and Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has apparently made his pick: Nico Paz, the 21-year-old midfielder who debuted for the senior team by, fittingly, setting up a Messi goal.
Scaloni has identified Paz as the future wearer of Argentina’s No. 10 jersey, a shirt that has belonged to Messi since the 2008-09 season and, before him, to a certain Diego Maradona.
From Tenerife to the Albiceleste
Nicolás Paz was born on September 8, 2004, in Tenerife, Spain. He could have chosen to represent Spain at international level, but instead followed the path of his father, Pablo Paz, who represented Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.
Paz came through Real Madrid’s academy before moving to Serie A club Como, where his creativity, dribbling, and shooting ability during the 2025-26 season turned heads across European football.
His senior international debut came in October 2024, and the moment could not have been scripted better. Paz provided an assist to Messi, a symbolic passing of the creative torch that now looks like it was foreshadowing something bigger.
Heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Paz had accumulated 11 senior caps for Argentina. During the tournament itself, he played a key role in the group stage, though he wore the No. 18 shirt rather than the famous 10.
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Argentina ultimately finished as the runner-up at the 2026 World Cup. Messi retired from international duty in late August or early September 2026 after an extraordinary career spanning 207 caps and 125 goals.
Why Paz, and why now
Scaloni has been quietly building toward this transition since he took over the national team in 2018. What makes Paz stand out is his versatility. He is capable of excelling in various midfield roles, not locked into a single position the way some creative players can be.
Still, the decision comes with an asterisk. Scaloni’s own contract expires in December 2026, and his ability to formally hand the jersey to Paz is contingent on his expected contract renewal through the 2030 World Cup cycle.
The weight of a number
Maradona wore it when he dragged Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title almost single-handedly. Messi wore it across nearly two decades of international football, winning Copa America in 2021 and the 2022 World Cup.
Paz’s father playing in a World Cup helps, in a way. He grew up understanding the pressure that comes with representing Argentina.
What comes next
The immediate next step is Scaloni’s contract situation. If he secures a renewal through the 2030 World Cup cycle, expect the formal handover to happen relatively quickly.
For Paz, the priority is continued development at club level. His performances at Como during the 2025-26 Serie A season suggest he is on an upward trajectory.