Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that captain Lionel Messi will begin on the bench for their final Group J fixture against Jordan at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The defending champions, known as the Albiceleste, have been in superb form so far, with Messi leading the charge by scoring five goals across their opening two victories over Algeria and Austria. Those wins have already secured Argentina's place in the knockout stage.
Messi currently tops the Golden Boot race with five goals, one ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele. The 39-year-old also holds a two-goal advantage over Mbappe in the tournament’s all-time scoring charts, with 18 goals compared to the Frenchman’s 16.
However, Scaloni has decided to give his star player a partial rest for the final group match before the knockout rounds begin. “Leo Messi will be on the bench against Jordan. He will have minutes in the second half,” Scaloni told reporters on Friday.
The decision comes as Argentina aim to preserve their fitness and form heading into the latter stages of the competition, with Messi expected to play a crucial role as they defend the title they won in 2022.
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