Argentina captain Lionel Messi will begin Saturday’s final World Cup group match against Jordan on the bench. Coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed Messi will feature later as Argentina has already secured first place in Group J. The decision allows the defending champions to manage key players before the knockout stage.
Scaloni said Messi would enter the match as a substitute after the starting lineup had already been decided. Argentina booked top spot with victories over Austria and Algeria in its opening two matches. Meanwhile, Jordan has already been eliminated from the tournament, making the final group fixture a dead rubber.
Messi, who turned 39 on Wednesday, has scored all of Argentina’s goals at the tournament so far. His performances have made him the leading scorer in World Cup history. Argentina will face the runner-up from Group H in the Round of 32 after completing the group stage.
Scaloni is expected to rotate several players with qualification already secured. Group H includes Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia, with the second-placed team set to meet Argentina. The coaching staff hopes the squad remains fresh for the knockout rounds.
Left-back Nicolas Tagliafico praised Messi’s current form and described him as equal to, or even better than, his 2022 level. Argentina’s players also celebrated Messi’s 39th birthday with special shirts and a cake. Tagliafico said the celebration strengthened team spirit before the knockout phase.