MOSCOW, December 29. /TASS/. The Argentine Football Federation (AFF) decided to retire the No. 10 jersey of its striker Lionel Messi once he wraps up his sports career, AFF President Claudio Tapia told Spanish sports news web portal Sport.es on Friday.

"We will not allow anyone else wearing his jersey’s number 10 if Messi parts ways with the national team," Tapia said. "That number will be retired from the national team’s list in his honor and it is the least that we can do for him."

Earlier this year Messi parted ways with storied French football club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) after signing with them as a free agent in the summer of 2021. He racked up 32 goals and 35 assists in 74 matches for the French club, twice winning the French football championship as well as one French Super Cup.

Before joining PSG, Messi played for Barcelona FC from 2003 and 2021. The Argentinian striker won a club-record 34 trophies, including ten La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles and the UEFA Champions League four times.

Messi is the captain of the Argentinian national football team and has 102 goals and 56 assists in 174 matches on the international stage. He is the winner of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the 2021 Copa America and gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The legendary striker owns a record eight Ballon d'Or awards and a record six European Golden Shoes.