Lionel Messi will start Argentina national football team’s final Group J match against Jordan national football team on the bench after the reigning world champions secured top spot in the group.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that Messi will feature later in the match, adding that Argentina’s starting lineup has already been finalized.
Argentina booked first place in Group J with a 2-0 victory over Austria national football team followed by a 3-0 win against Algeria national football team, ensuring qualification for the knockout stage.
Messi, who celebrated his 39th birthday on Wednesday, has scored all of Argentina’s goals at the 2026 FIFA World Cup so far and is the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
With Argentina already through to the Round of 32 and Jordan eliminated, Scaloni is expected to rotate his squad and rest several key players ahead of the knockout rounds.
Argentina will face the runners-up from Group H, which features Spain national football team, Uruguay national football team, Cape Verde national football team, and Saudi Arabia national football team.
Argentina left-back Nicolás Tagliafico praised Messi’s performances, saying the captain is playing at the same level—or even better—than during Argentina’s victorious 2022 World Cup campaign.
The squad also celebrated Messi’s birthday with specially designed T-shirts and a cake, marking the occasion during the team’s training camp.
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