Argentina Starts Learning to Play Without Messi: Scaloni Shelves the No. 10 and Tests a New Lineup Against Bolivia

Argentina's number 10 jersey is going to stay in the drawer a while longer. Nobody will wear it, at least for now, and that decision says a lot about the moment the national team is living through: saying goodbye to Lionel Messi while trying to picture itself without him.

The first test of this new chapter comes this Wednesday, when Argentina hosts Bolivia in a friendly at Estadio Kempes in Cordoba. It's no ordinary match for the coaching staff: it's the first time the Albiceleste will play without the possibility of calling on Messi, just days before Messi himself plays his official farewell match on October 6 against Benin, at the Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Lionel Scaloni, who already has a World Cup under his belt, didn't hold back when asked how he plans to replace a player who defined an era. He said it with the calm of someone who's already made peace with it: "We'll find a way to play differently."

That's what these matches are for, to experiment. Either way, our style still revolves around controlling the ball. From there, we'll see how we adapt.Lionel Scaloni

One of the tactical wrinkles being tested is pairing Julian Alvarez and Lautaro Martinez up front, a duo Scaloni had steered clear of until now. The coach hasn't confirmed his starting eleven, but everything points to much of the team being the same one that lost the World Cup final to Spain 1-0.

Among the expected changes are Agustin Giay at right back, Exequiel Palacios filling in for a suspended Enzo Fernandez (serving a ban for the red card he picked up in that final), and Valentin Barco joining as a third midfielder. The big question was who would run the show in Messi's absence, and that's where the name Nicolas Paz came in, now with Como in Italy, who looks set to take on that creative responsibility.

On the number everyone's watching, Scaloni was clear: nobody will inherit it just yet. The 10 that Messi wore while lifting the World Cup in 2022, and in the vast majority of his 207 appearances for the national team, will remain without an owner for now.

We're not obligated to assign it for these matches, so we won't give it to anyone until Leo's farewell game. The idea is that at some point someone will take it on, given how special it is to wear it. We just haven't decided who yet.Lionel Scaloni

Messi had announced the end of his national team career in late August. In what was his sixth and final World Cup he played eight matches and scored eight goals, and he departs as Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 125 goals, 21 of which came at World Cups.

Scaloni Is Also Looking Past October

Meanwhile, Scaloni himself is reportedly close to renewing his contract, which expires on December 31. He had hinted, after the July 19 final loss, that he might step aside, but he later met with AFA president Claudio Tapia to negotiate an extension that would carry him through the 2030 World Cup, which Argentina will co-host.

What matters is that the desire is there. I had to take a step back, rethink things, and take a close look at both the sporting and financial sides. I needed to weigh what's coming. In the end, we're excited about the future, and that shared excitement paved the way to an agreement.Lionel Scaloni

The coach also sent a signal about the generational shift he's been pushing forward: not a single player turned down the call-up for this window, something he sees as a good sign.

We're always going to compete, I'm sure of that, that's why I decided to stay. We see the talent coming through and the desire to be here. We have it guaranteed that we'll compete against anyone, and I have no doubt we'll perform at a high level.Lionel Scaloni