Messi to start on bench for Argentina's World Cup group finale against Jordan

Lionel Messi will begin Argentina's final World Cup group match against Jordan on the bench, manager Lionel Scaloni confirmed on Friday ahead of the match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The 39-year-old superstar is expected to enter in the second half as part of a tactical rotation rather than due to injury concerns. Scaloni emphasized that the decision was made in consultation with Messi and aims to maintain the player's competitive sharpness while resting him ahead of the knockout stage.

Messi has been the standout performer in Argentina's group campaign, netting all five of the team's goals across matches against Algeria and Austria. His performance has made him the tournament's leading scorer and broken the men's World Cup record for most career goals with 18. Despite his individual brilliance, Argentina has already secured top spot in Group J and automatic qualification for the round of 32 as the defending 2022 World Cup champions.

Scaloni indicated that Argentina will field a modified lineup against Jordan while maintaining its possession-based approach. Nico Paz, a 21-year-old left-footed creative midfielder playing for Como under manager Cesc Fabregas, is expected to start in Messi's place. The change offers an opportunity to assess Argentina's tactical flexibility and the potential contributions of emerging talent as the team prepares for life after Messi, who is likely nearing the end of his international career at 39.

The manager stressed that the squad rotation was not influenced by upcoming knockout stage matchups, with Argentina set to face Cape Verde in Miami next Friday as winners of Group J. Scaloni noted that Jordan presents a legitimate competitive test despite Argentina's secure position, highlighting the team's commitment to maintaining standards throughout the tournament. The match kicks off Sunday at 03:00 BST (Saturday evening in Texas).