[Sport] The unbearable inheritance of Messi's number '10'

[#Steeven.™]

To think of Barcelona's number 10 is to think of Leo Messi. The captain culé chains 12 seasons wearing that great number in his clothing. Before he wore the 30, in the 04-05 and 05-06 campaigns, and the 19, in the 06-07 and 07-08. But since 08-09, the culé attacker jumps onto the pitch with a mythical figure that other Barça legends have also carried. Now, if his goodbye is confirmed, he leaves behind a number that has a very difficult weight to bear.

Messi, who also wears 10 with Argentina, has transformed that number into a mythical figure, a symbol. It is closely associated with his image and talent. The Barcelona captain has made that numbering part of his identity. The player who picks up that baton will have to assume strong pressure because, in addition, many other great players have worn that number, almost always associated with the star of the dressing room.

Professionals of the stature of Luis Suárez Miramontes (Ballon d'Or), Juan Manuel Ansensi, Sotil, Maradona, Archibald, Gary Lineker, Romario, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Riquelme and even Guardiola have dressed as Barça players with that mythical figure on their kits. But despite the abundant quality and talent of all of them, none will leave the void in that number that will mean the departure of Messi from the Camp Nou. It is an inheritance that involves comparisons that are difficult to bear. The international albiceste will mark, forever, a before and after.

At City, his most likely destination today is his great friend and compatriot Kun Agüero who wears 10, and it seems he's willing to give it to him. At Inter, Lautaro, with whom Barcelona negotiates because it is the great culé objective of this summer, has taken it this course; at Juventus it belongs to Dybala; and at PSG, his great friend Neymar.

Not only in Barça but in almost all teams it is a number loaded with meaning and reserved for players who make a difference. Although few are as emblematic as 10 culé. With that number on his back, the Argentine attacker has achieved 48 titles!, Between personal and collective, an amount available only to football legends.