Argentina captain Lionel Messi will start Saturday’s final FIFA World Cup Group J match against Jordan on the bench, with head coach Lionel Scaloni opting to rest the veteran forward after the reigning champions secured qualification for the knockout stage.
Scaloni confirmed the decision during a pre-match press conference on Friday, saying Messi would feature later in the game.
“Leo will come on later. I’ve already confirmed the team, but we’re going to announce it tomorrow,” the Argentina coach said.
Argentina have already sealed top spot in Group J after opening the tournament with a 2-0 victory over Austria before defeating Algeria 3-0 in their second group match.
With qualification to the Round of 32 already secured and Jordan eliminated from the competition, Scaloni is expected to rotate his squad ahead of the knockout stage.
Argentina will face the runners-up from Group H, which features Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.
Messi, who celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday, has been in outstanding form at the tournament, scoring all of Argentina’s goals so far and becoming the leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history.
His teammates marked the occasion with a special birthday celebration, presenting him with customised T-shirts and a birthday cake.
Defender Nicolas Tagliafico praised the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, saying the Inter Miami star remains at the peak of his powers.
“He’s at the very exact same level as in 2022, or even better, I would say,” Tagliafico said.
Reflecting on Messi’s birthday celebration, the 33-year-old described it as a memorable moment that strengthened the team’s bond.
“I think that this was something quite beautiful. At the end of the day these are just small details.
“When you have to live together for such a long time and see everybody’s faces every single day, moments like that matter. We had a ball; we just had a blast,” he added.
Argentina will be aiming to maintain their perfect record in the group stage when they face Jordan before shifting focus to the knockout rounds as they continue the defence of their World Cup title.
