SHOCKING: Lionel Messi faces potential ban from playing for Argentina's national team

The recently introduced rule by the Argentine Football Association has sparked fierce debate, potentially preventing Lionel Messi and many other players from being eligible to play for the national squad.

In the early hours of February 10, 2026, the The Athletic published a shocking report: The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has officially implemented a regulation that prohibits calling up players to the national team if they moved abroad to play without ever signing a professional contract with a domestic club.

The main aim of this policy is to protect the economic interests of local clubs. However, its consequences directly target the greatest icon of Argentine football — Lionel Messi.

Everyone knows "El Pulga" left Newell's Old Boys to join Barcelona's La Masia academy at age 13 and signed his first professional contract in Spain rather than Argentina. If this rule is applied retroactively or the strict criteria remain, Messi’s position in the national team could be seriously jeopardized.

AFA explains that this rule was created to address the Patria Potestad (parental authority) law. This law allows players’ parents to decide where their children sign contracts without needing the home club’s consent. This has caused Argentine academies to lose promising talents for free, receiving only minimal training compensation instead of huge transfer fees.

The final straw leading to this decision was the transfer of 16-year-old prospect Lucas Scarlatto from River Plate to Parma. Although trained by River Plate since age 6 and having represented Argentina at youth levels, Scarlatto left without River Plate receiving any transfer fee. AFA believes that strictly barring such players from the national team will force young talents to commit their futures to domestic football before dreaming of Europe.

Not only Messi, but the "blacklist" under strict enforcement would also include many current key players of Argentina’s national team. Renowned names such as goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez (who left Independiente for Arsenal at 17), Emiliano Buendia, and young talents like Giuliano Simeone and Valentin Carboni all share the same situation: moving abroad before signing a professional contract at home.

Since the September 2025 call-up, up to seven key players in coach Lionel Scaloni’s squad are affected by this rule. Public opinion in Argentina is divided: some support the integrity and sustainable development of local clubs, while others fear the national team could weaken by losing world-class stars over a rigid administrative regulation.

Currently, fans are awaiting a clearer statement from AFA regarding the status of veterans like Messi to calm fears of a historic purge.