According to the Liverpool Echo, Mac Allister is tipped to inherit Argentina's No. 10 jersey after Messi concludes his international career.

Mac Allister might be getting a new national team number. The Liverpool midfielder has consistently worn the No. 10 jersey during his time in England, both at Brighton & Hove Albion and Liverpool.

He also wore the No. 10 at Argentinos Juniors, with the only exception being his loan spell at Boca Juniors, during which he wore No. 8 throughout his club career.

Additionally, he wore No. 10 for Argentina at the Tokyo Olympics. However, he has never worn this jersey for the senior national team.

After all, Messi has always been the biggest obstacle to Mac Allister becoming Argentina's No. 10, but Mac Allister doesn't mind this.

When Messi was out injured in September 2024, Mac Allister explicitly stated that the No. 10 jersey should not be given to anyone during the captain's absence.

Mac Allister said at the time: "Look after it (Messi's No. 10)? No! The No. 10 belongs to Messi, and it's his alone."

However, for Argentina, leaving the No. 10 vacant in official matches does not comply with FIFA regulations. During those World Cup qualifiers against Chile and Colombia, Dybala "borrowed" the jersey; later, when Messi was absent from World Cup qualifiers, Angel Correa and Mastantuno also wore No. 10.

In international friendlies without Messi, the jersey remained vacant.

Messi's international career concluded with a farewell match in Buenos Aires. Argentina defeated Benin 3-0, with Messi scoring a goal and providing two assists. Following this, Argentina will need to designate a long-term successor for the No. 10 jersey.

Argentina had hoped to retire the jersey. In 2002, Argentina also wanted to honor Diego Maradona in the same way, but was prevented by FIFA rules.

Since relevant rules still prevent such tributes, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni previously revealed that the team has not yet decided on the new No. 10, and the decision will not be made until the November international break.

Scaloni stated: "We are not obligated to assign this number in these matches, so before Leo's farewell match, we won't give it to anyone. Our idea is that eventually someone will take it, as wearing it carries significant meaning. We just haven't decided who yet."

There has been a persistent desire in Argentina for Mac Allister to succeed Messi, although Mac Allister's father, Carlos, once suggested rotating the number.

After Messi's international retirement, TyC Sports journalist Ernesto Provitillo reiterated his belief that Mac Allister should be Argentina's next No. 10.

Provitillo wrote after Argentina's win over Benin: "As we have pointed out before, certain players in the national team helped Messi, and there is no doubt that this was a mutually beneficial relationship: Mac Allister's career certainly benefited from his proximity to Messi and the understanding they built on the field."

He also wrote: "One could even say—and this is just my personal opinion—that the No. 10 jersey should be passed to the Liverpool player, who played a crucial role in the second goal of that unforgettable World Cup final against France."

Last month, after Argentina's victory over Bolivia, Provitillo expressed a similar view: "He is the heart of the team, always well-positioned, always the outlet, always ready to create chances. A modern midfielder, constantly moving up and down, driving forward with the ball and dropping back, participating in attacks and creating opportunities."

"In my opinion, it is most appropriate for him to wear the No. 10 in the near future, just as he does at Liverpool."

For the Argentina national team, Mac Allister wears No. 20; in England, however, No. 10 has almost become his trademark. Although this number holds great significance in Argentina due to Maradona and Messi, Mac Allister initially received it almost by accident.

In January 2020, Mac Allister returned to Brighton & Hove Albion after they cut short his loan spell at Boca Juniors. At the time, Florin Andone had temporarily left the squad, and the No. 10 jersey was vacant.

Mac Allister told The Athletic in 2022: "The No. 10 is very important in Argentina and in world football, so it feels good to wear it. I don't see my number during the game, so it doesn't bother me."

When he transferred from Brighton & Hove Albion to Liverpool for £35 million in the summer of 2023, the situation was similar. The Liverpool No. 10 jersey had been vacant for the previous season after Sadio Mane left to join Bayern Munich.

Upon joining Liverpool, Mac Allister told LFC TV: "I know how important the No. 10 is in football. I also had the chance to choose No. 8, which is also an important number for this club, of course because of Gerrard."

"But I decided to choose No. 10 because I often wore it in Argentina, at Brighton & Hove Albion, and with the national team's U23 squad. It's a number I really like, so I chose it."

Mac Allister later discussed the significance of the number in an interview with Latin American sports channel DSports Radio: "Wearing the Liverpool No. 10 means a lot. It signifies huge responsibility, both on and off the field."

"The No. 10 certainly means responsibility, but I can handle it. You don't constantly look at your number during a game, but overall, I want to enjoy playing, and I really do enjoy it."

After Wirtz joined, it was rumored that Mac Allister would lose the No. 10 at Liverpool. German media reported that Wirtz had requested the jersey.

Wirtz later denied these claims on social media, and the two even joked about the reports afterwards.

Wirtz wrote on social media at the time: "Who said I want the No. 10? I respect players. Don't believe everything you read."

In August 2025, Wirtz and Mac Allister even filmed a Google Pixel 10 phone advertisement together, humorously addressing the rumors.

In the ad, Mac Allister approaches Wirtz at the AXA Training Centre, holding a Google Pixel 10 phone, and says: "I know there have been some rumors about Flo wanting the No. 10, but I want to tell everyone the truth. Flo! This is the No. 10 you want, right? The Google Pixel 10."

Wirtz takes the phone and replies: "Thanks, Macca. Well done!" The two then take a selfie together.

Bayern have hinted more than once that Liverpool's promise to Wirtz of the No. 10 jersey might have been one of the reasons for Liverpool successfully signing him.

Liverpool's No. 10 jersey might become vacant again in the future. Mac Allister's contract with Liverpool expires in 2028, and he has publicly stated that the club's delay in offering a new contract made him "sad."

However, at least on the field, Mac Allister has responded. He has rediscovered his best form under new coach Andoni Iraola and has re-entered the team's starting lineup.

Whether he is good enough to earn a new contract remains to be seen; similarly, only time will tell if he will inherit Messi's Argentina No. 10 jersey.

But regardless of the number he wears, Mac Allister's importance to both club and country is clear.

As he said in 2022 while at Brighton & Hove Albion: "It's good to wear it, but I don't see my number during the game, so it doesn't bother me."

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