Argentina captain Lionel Messi will not be part of the starting lineup for his team’s final Group J fixture against Jordan on Sunday at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed the decision on Saturday, stating that the Argentine star will begin the match on the bench and could be introduced later in the game.
The defending South American side has already secured qualification for the Round of 32 after victories over Algeria and Austria, giving Scaloni flexibility ahead of the knockout stages.
Scaloni Confirms Messi Will Start Among Substitutes
Speaking ahead of Argentina’s final group-stage encounter, Scaloni revealed that Messi would not start against Jordan.
“Leo will start on the bench. Leo will come in a little bit later,” Scaloni said.
The Argentina manager did not provide details on when Messi might enter the match and also chose not to disclose his starting lineup for the clash against Jordan, a nation making its first appearance at a World Cup. Jordan has lost both of its opening matches in the tournament.
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Messi’s Outstanding Start to the Tournament
Messi has been the driving force behind Argentina’s campaign so far, scoring all five of the team’s goals across their first two Group J matches.
The 38-year-old now has 18 goals across six World Cup tournaments, further extending his remarkable record on football’s biggest stage.
Record-Breaking Performances
In Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria, Messi netted his first-ever World Cup hat trick. Those three goals allowed him to equal the career World Cup scoring record of 16 goals previously held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
He then moved past Klose by scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria on Monday. That match took place at the home stadium of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, which will also host the Group J finale against Jordan.
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Comparison With Other World Cup Greats
Klose completed his World Cup career with 24 appearances for Germany. His fourth and final tournament ended with Germany’s 1-0 extra-time victory over Messi and Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final.
Meanwhile, France forward Kylian Mbappe also reached the 16-goal mark after scoring twice in France’s 3-0 victory over Iraq.
Mbappe has registered four goals in the current tournament, although he did not find the net during France’s 4-1 win against Norway on Friday in its final group-stage match.
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Messi Continues to Add to His Legacy
Widely regarded by many as the greatest football player of all time, Messi has now made 201 appearances for Argentina.
His appearance record includes a FIFA-record 28 World Cup matches.
The Argentine captain has also achieved another notable milestone by scoring in six consecutive World Cup appearances. Only France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil legend Jairzinho have accomplished the same feat.
Managing Fitness Ahead of the Knockout Stage
Before arriving at the World Cup, Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury while playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
The issue affected his preparation leading into the tournament, although there have been no signs of any lingering problems since the competition began.
With Argentina expected to challenge for another World Cup final appearance, managing Messi’s workload remains a key consideration.
Argentina Looking Ahead to a Potential Deep Run
Argentina’s knockout-stage campaign is scheduled to begin next Friday in South Florida.
Under the expanded 48-team World Cup format, La Albiceleste could play five matches within 17 days if they progress all the way to the final on July 19.
With qualification already secured, resting Messi from the starting lineup against Jordan may help preserve the team’s most influential player for the demanding rounds ahead.
Conclusion
Argentina has already achieved its immediate objective of advancing from Group J, allowing Lionel Scaloni to make strategic decisions before the knockout rounds. While Lionel Messi will not start against Jordan, fans can still expect to see the tournament’s leading Argentine scorer feature later in the match as the team prepares for a potentially long journey toward the World Cup final on July 19.
