The reason why Lamine didn't wear the number 10 in the World Cup

Spanish star Lamine Yamal will wear the number 19 jersey for the Spanish national team at the 2026 World Cup, instead of the number 10, which had been the subject of much debate recently, amidst various behind-the-scenes factors behind the choice . The number 10 is one of the most symbolic numbers in world football, associated with legends of the game such as Pelé, Maradona, Messi, and Baggio, and is often given to the team's most prominent player. This led to speculation that it would be given to Yamal given his rapid rise to stardom . However, reports from The Athletic explained that the distribution of Spanish national team jersey numbers is based on international seniority, with priority given to more experienced players. Accordingly, the number 10 went to Barcelona's Dani Olmo, who made his international debut in 2019 and has around 50 caps, while Yamal made his debut in 2023 and has only 25 appearances . Despite this organizational explanation, other theories have been put forward regarding Yamal's insistence on wearing the number 19, most notably its symbolic connection to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi, who wore the same number in his early days during the 2006 World Cup before later switching to number 10. Yamal is inclined to keep the number 19 as Messi's starting number, in an attempt to follow in the Argentine star's footsteps and replicate his early international career .