‘I’d give it to Juli’: Cuti Romero picks Messi’s No.10 successor

Published : 28 October 2026

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Updated : 28 October 2026, 09:57

Agencies

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**Cristian Romero has revealed who he wants to inherit Lionel Messi’s iconic Argentina No.10 shirt, and the new captain has picked Julian Alvarez as the ideal successor to the legendary forward.**Messi’s famous shirt carries an extraordinary legacy, having been worn by some of Argentina’s greatest-ever players, including Diego Maradona and Mario Kempes. But following Messi’s departure from the international stage, Romero believes Atletico Madrid striker Alvarez could be the right man to carry the responsibility.Speaking to Los Edul in his first interview as Argentina captain, the Tottenham defender admitted he would prefer the national team to retire the famous number altogether rather than ask another player to fill Messi’s boots.“I would honestly put it aside, put up a mural at the AFA and that's it, so no one has that responsibility, but that can't be done,” Cuti Romero said.However, when asked who should wear the shirt if it remains available, the World Cup winner had a clear answer.“I would give it to Juli [Alvarez],” he revealed.“After that, everyone surely has their own. I see him with that profile of humility, of being a family man, a good guy, and he has the qualities. I think it's him.”Alvarez played a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph and has continued to establish himself as one of the country’s most important attacking talents. Romero believes his humble personality and footballing ability make him a strong candidate to inherit the shirt worn by Messi during his remarkable international career. The Argentina captain also acknowledged that the national team has plenty of other talented players capable of stepping up. He even joked about taking Alvarez to his hometown of Calchin, revealing that he had encouraged the forward to embrace the idea before.Romero also dismissed conspiracy theories surrounding Argentina’s World Cup final against Spain, insisting that social media had fuelled unnecessary speculation.“Nothing happened in the final,” he said, adding that Spain had played well and Argentina had struggled physically throughout the demanding tournament.The defender also paid an emotional tribute to Messi, admitting that life without the former captain in the Argentina squad still feels strange.“He's had, and continues to have, a career that no one will ever be able to match,” Romero said.The centre-back went further, describing Messi as the greatest footballer in history and praising his continued desire to compete.Romero also questioned the credibility of modern individual awards, suggesting that marketing and social media popularity sometimes influence the race for football’s biggest honours.“These days the award is a bit of a marketing ploy and they'll probably give it to whoever has the most Instagram followers,” he joked.Asked who deserved the Ballon d'Or, Romero's answer was unmistakable: Messi.