Who Will Wear the No. 10 Shirt Next for Argentina and Brazil?

The impending international exits of Lionel Messi from Argentina and Neymar from Brazil have opened a debate over who will next wear the No. 10 shirt for two of South America's most storied national teams.

The number has carried outsized symbolic weight in both countries, associated historically with playmakers such as Diego Maradona for Argentina and Pelé for Brazil, and more recently with Messi and Neymar respectively.

According to ESPN, both Messi and Neymar are approaching the end of their international careers, prompting coaches, pundits and supporters to consider which younger players might be entrusted with the shirt and the creative responsibilities that come with it.

For Argentina, the conversation centers on emerging attacking talents who have featured in recent squads assembled since Messi's tenure atop the national team, while Brazil's discussion focuses on the next generation of forwards and midfielders expected to lead the Seleção in future tournament cycles.

Neither federation has formally announced who will take over the shirt number, and such decisions are typically made by national team coaches once a squad's regular lineup and hierarchy are established.

The transition comes as both countries prepare for upcoming international fixtures and tournament qualifying, periods that often shape which players coaches trust with senior roles.