Lionel Messi admits he ‘missed’ having No.10 shirt at PSG as Zinedine Zidane insists iconic number belongs to Argentina star

Messi became synonymous with the No. 10 shirt, following in the footsteps of Argentina hero Diego Maradona by starring in it for the national team and Barcelona.

However, when he turned up at PSG, team-mate Neymar had already taken the jersey number, leaving Messi to pick another number.

Messi opted to take 30 as his shirt number throughout his two years in the French capital. The 36-year-old says he had a special bond to that number as it was the one he wore in his early years in the Barcelona first-team.

However, former France and Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane admitted that everyone wants to see the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner don the 10 shirt.

"I don't think today it is as important as it used to be some time ago, but obviously, the number 10 shirt is still special," Messi said in conversation with Zidane for Adidas. "When I was in Paris, I didn't wear the number 10 shirt. Well, I was used to always wearing the number 10 shirt from all those years in Barcelona, in the national team.

"Although it wasn't a big deal, I kind of missed a little not having 'my number', right? Because I have worn it all my life, but it's ok, then I got used to it. And the number 30 was special for me too. I started playing with the number 30, my first game was with the number 30, so it has something special too."

Zidane responded: "But it was special just for you. People only want to see Messi wearing the number 10. If I see Messi in the field, I want to see the number 10 on his back."

Messi is back wearing the No. 10 shirt once again since joining Inter Miami in July. He will be sporting it this weekend when the Florida club face New York City in a special match to commemorate the Argentine winning the Ballon d'Or for the eighth time.