With Lionel Messi absent due to injury, Atlético de Madrid’s forward Angel Correa wore Argentina’s iconic number 10 jersey during the South American World Cup qualifiers. The Argentine star was not called up for the double FIFA matchday, where Argentina already faced Uruguay and will soon play against Brazil.
During the match against Uruguay, Correa started on the bench. Then, in the 87th minute, he entered the pitch to replace Thiago Almada, who had just scored Argentina’s winning goal. Fans, seeing the number 10 jersey on the field, cheered wildly, thinking Messi had come on. However, they soon realized it was Correa instead.
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Confusion and excitement over the number 10 jersey
The legendary number 10 jersey, forever linked to Messi, did not go unnoticed. The crowd, initially believing they were watching their idol, showered Angel Correa with applause. Once they recognized their mistake, their excitement turned into admiration for Correa, who had the honor of wearing one of the most famous numbers in football history.
Messi has worn Argentina’s number 10 jersey since March 28, 2009, when Argentina defeated Venezuela 4-0. This year, however, an injury following Inter Miami’s victory over Atlanta United prevented him from participating in the qualifiers. As a result, he had to temporarily pass his legendary jersey to Angel Correa.
Correa debuted the 10 jersey for the first time in Argentina’s 13th match of the South American Qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. The game took place at the iconic Estadio Centenario, where Argentina secured a victory against Uruguay, despite missing both Messi and Lautaro Martínez.
Now, the Argentine team is preparing for a crucial clash against Brazil at the Estadio Monumental. Once again, Angel Correa will step onto the pitch wearing the number 10, carrying the weight of expectations from fans who associate the jersey with their greatest football legend.
