Lionel Messi to begin on the bench? Scaloni breaks silence before Jordan test

Argentina have taken a cautious approach ahead of their final Group J clash, with Lionel Messi set to begin the match against Jordan on the bench. Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed on Friday that the decision is part of the team’s strategy to keep key players fresh for the knockout stage after securing qualification with back-to-back victories.

Although Messi expectedly, will not start at AT&T Stadium on Saturday, he is expected to feature during the game. With Argentina already assured of a place in the Round of 32, the coaching staff have opted to manage their captain’s workload rather than risk him from the first whistle.

Scaloni rules out talk of choosing opponents

Addressing the media before the game, Scaloni confirmed Messi's role for the match while dismissing suggestions that Argentina's team selection was influenced by potential knockout opponents.

"Leo will be a substitute tomorrow, to play later," Scaloni told reporters on Friday (June 26). "The decision of who starts tomorrow is not in relation to the opponent we'll face in the next round. We aren't in a position to choose our next opponent. I'd rather the World Cup ended tomorrow with us as champions."

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Argentina wrapped up top spot in Group J after victories over Algeria and Austria, allowing the coaching staff to rotate players before the tournament enters its knockout phase. With every match from here carrying elimination stakes, managing the fitness of key players has become a priority.

Messi heads into knockouts in stunning form

Messi has been the standout performer for Argentina during the group stage. The 39-year-old has scored all five of his team's goals so far, netting a hat-trick against Algeria before following it up with a brace against Austria.

His second goal against Austria also took him to 18 FIFA World Cup goals, making him the outright leading scorer in the history of the men's tournament. He currently leads the scoring charts and remains among the favourites to finish as the Golden Boot winner.

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A legacy still growing on football’s biggest stage

At 39, Lionel Messi continues to redefine longevity on football’s biggest stage. The 2026 FIFA World Cup is his sixth appearance at the tournament, capping a remarkable 20-year journey that began with his debut in 2006. From an emerging talent to a World Cup-winning captain and now the competition’s all-time leading scorer, Messi has remained a symbol of consistency and excellence across generations. Even with Argentina opting to rest him for the final Group J match against Jordan, his impact has already been decisive, having scored all five of the team’s goals to help seal qualification for the knockout stage.

Argentina will learn their Round of 32 opponents after the conclusion of the Group H matches, with Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia still in contention for the remaining qualification spot.

For now, Argentina's focus remains firmly on entering the knockout rounds with a fully fit squad, and Messi's reduced role against Jordan is part of that approach.