Lionel Messi will start on the bench for Argentina's final World Cup group match against Jordan, manager Lionel Scaloni has confirmed, despite the 39-year-old having scored all five of his team's goals in their opening two victories.
Scaloni said: 'Leo is going to start on the bench. As for the formation, I won't tell you anymore on that. And Leo will come on a little bit later.' The decision is a blow to fans who have paid at least £600 – and up to £8,000 for premium seats – to watch the dead rubber, with Argentina already guaranteed to top Group J after beating Algeria and Austria.
“Lionel Messi will start on the bench for Argentina's final World Cup group game against Jordan.”
Messi is understood to be keen not to sit out the match completely, fearing he would lose his rhythm if he went 11 days without playing between the Austria game and Argentina's last-32 tie in Miami on 3 July. The captain turned 39 on Wednesday, and the squad threw a party where each player wore a T-shirt with an image of them on the pitch alongside Messi.
Nico Paz is set to start alongside Julian Alvarez in attack, with Lautaro Martinez also rested as Scaloni rotates his squad. Left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, a World Cup winner in 2022, said: 'From what I have seen of Leo so far, he is at the same level as he was in 2022 or even better and we are enjoying this. I’m sure he is enjoying it too.'
Scaloni defended his changes, saying: 'Those that are playing tomorrow are playing because they deserve to be playing. They are part of the team. They are part of all the efforts that we’ve been doing in training and selecting. It’s because of them that we’re there. They’re making every effort when they’re not playing. They’re the first to show up at practice. And, of course, I love to give everybody minutes. They’re fantastic players as well. And the dream as a coach is to have the team perform the same way independently of the players that comprise the team.'
In the other final group game in Group J, Spain face Uruguay needing just a point to advance, with minimal changes expected to their starting lineup.