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Barcelona Have Handed Lionel Messi's Iconic No.10 Shirt To Ansu Fati

Barcelona Have Handed Lionel Messi's Iconic No.10 Shirt To Ansu Fati

Lionel Messi vacated the No.10 shirt after leaving Barcelona and the iconic number has now been inherited by 18-year-old Ansu Fati.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Barcelona have announced that 18-year-old wonderkid Ansu Fati is the new proud owner of the No.10 shirt vacated by Lionel Messi.

Messi took on the iconic number from Ronaldinho in 2008 following the Brazilian's departure from Barcelona and went on to wear it with distinction at the Nou Camp.

After Messi left to join Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer, there was talk of Barca retiring the number to mark Messi's unparalleled achievements with the Blaugrana.

However, they club have decided to pay the highest compliment to exciting talent and fellow La Masia product Fati by giving him the No.10.


Barca confirmed the news on social media, posting a video of him displaying his new number.

Fati debuted wearing the No.31 on his back as a 16-year-old and moved to the No.22 after being officially promoted to the first-team last season.

Image: PA
Image: PA

The Spain international has just returned after a nine-month lay-off following knee surgery and will surely be beaming with confidence now.

There had been some speculation that the No.10 shirt was offered to Philippe Coutinho but the Brazilian is set to continue wearing the No.14 shirt made famous by Johan Cruyff.

Image: PA
Image: PA

Fati had described playing with Messi as "living the dream" in September of last year and now fast forward nearly a year and he is wearing his number.

In a statement confirming the huge news, Barcelona said: "Ansu Fati has a new shirt number. After wearing the No 22 then No 17, the young Barca striker will proudly wear the number 10 shirt - a famous jersey previously worn by legends such as Leo Messi, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo.

"Despite being just 18 years of age and still recovering from injury, Ansu Fati forms part of Barca's history as a record breaker and also with the Spanish national side.

"Since his debut in August 2019, the youngster has set records in the league and Champions League. 

"Just six days after his debut for the first team he became the youngest ever player to score in the league for FC Barcelona. "He is a record breaker who will now wear the magical No 10 shirt."

Featured Image Credit: Image: FC Barcelona

Topics: Barcelona, Lionel Messi, La Liga, Ansu Fati, Paris Saint-Germain

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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