Argentina captain Lionel Messi will begin on the bench for his side's final Group J fixture against Jordan at the FIFA World Cup 2026, head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed ahead of Sunday's match. Scaloni said the 39-year-old forward is expected to feature later in the game as a substitute, with Argentina having already secured qualification for the Round of 32 following consecutive victories over Algeria and Austria. The decision comes as the coaching staff looks to manage the workload of its star player before the knockout stages.

Speaking before the match, Scaloni confirmed that Messi would not be part of the starting lineup but indicated that the veteran forward is likely to get playing time during the contest. The Argentina coach did not specify when Messi would be introduced or reveal the rest of his starting eleven against Jordan, who are making their first-ever World Cup appearance and have already been eliminated after losing their opening two group matches.

Messi has enjoyed a sensational start to the tournament, scoring all five of Argentina's goals in the group stage so far. He netted his first-ever World Cup hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria, equalling Miroslav Klose's long-standing tournament scoring record before surpassing it with two more goals in Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria. The five-goal haul has taken Messi's overall World Cup tally to 18 goals, making him the competition's all-time leading scorer.

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The Argentine captain has also continued to add to his remarkable international achievements. The match against Jordan could mark his 28th FIFA World Cup appearance, extending his own tournament record. Messi has now scored in six consecutive World Cup editions, joining an elite list of players that includes France's Just Fontaine and Brazil legend Jairzinho. His consistent performances have once again underlined his importance to the defending world champions.

Scaloni's decision to rest Messi appears to be a precautionary measure as Argentina prepare for the demanding knockout phase. Messi had dealt with a minor hamstring issue while playing for Inter Miami before the tournament, although there have been no indications of any fresh injury during the World Cup. With Argentina expected to play as many as five knockout matches in just over two weeks if they reach the final, careful squad rotation has become a priority.

Argentina will begin their Round of 32 campaign next week after comfortably progressing from Group J. Meanwhile, France forward Kylian Mbappe, another leading contender for the tournament's Golden Boot, finished the group stage with four goals after being unable to add to his tally in France's 4-1 victory over Norway. As the knockout rounds approach, Argentina will hope a well-rested Messi can continue his record-breaking form and lead the team in its pursuit of another World Cup title.

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