Paulo Dybala, who won the FIFA World Cup in 2022, recently donned Lionel Messi’s legendary No. 10 shirt while representing Argentina. With Messi, an eight-time Ballon d’Or recipient, still recovering from an ankle injury, Dybala had the chance to wear the number in Argentina’s World Cup Qualifier match against Chile. Dybala acknowledged that while the shirt was originally Messi’s and he was aware of that, he made an effort to honor it by giving his best performance. He believed he succeeded in representing it well.
“I know it’s not my shirt, we all know it’s Leo’s shirt but well, I tried to represent it in the best way, to go in to give my best and I think I was able to do it,” Dybala told TyC sports after the defending world champions beat Chile 3-0.
Dybala netted Argentina’s last goal at the Estadio Monumental in a 3-0 victory, coming on as a substitute. Once on the field, he made a significant contribution while wearing the special jersey.
The 30-year old scored during stoppage time, thanks to a brilliant assist from Alejandro Garnacho, securing a three-goal advantage for his team. Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez and Liverpool's Alexis Mac Allister had already put the team ahead with the first two goals.
Dybala’s contribution had a notable impact, helping Argentina stay at the top of the World Cup 2026 qualifying standings. Out of seven matches, they have secured six victories and suffered one loss. Their upcoming fixture is against Colombia, the finalists of the 2024 Copa America.
The next match will be between Argentina and Colombia and is set to be held at the Estadio Metropolitano on September 11. Meanwhile, Messi, currently with Inter Miami, is anticipated to be sidelined from competitive play until the Major League Soccer (MLS) playoffs begin in October.