After scoring five goals in two games to top the , Lionel Messi will start Argentina's final group stage match against Jordan from the bench.
coach Lionel Scaloni revealed the news in his pre-match conference. "Leo will go to the bench. I’ll hold off on the final starting line-up, but Leo will come in later," he said.
The defending champions have already secured top place in Group J to secure their place in the Round of 32 and Scaloni will use the Jordan fixture to rest his key personnel and also give an opportunity to players who have yet to feature.
“The great merit of everything that’s been done goes to the boys who are always there and train to the max,” Scaloni said. “I think that when there’s an opportunity, there are great players who also deserve to come in. And the idea is for the team to play in the same way.”
Messi will be hoping to come on at some point at Dallas Stadium to extend his historic scoring record. As well as topping the Golden Boot race, the now 39-year-old has become with 18. He has France forward Kylian Mbappe hot on his heels in both standings.
“In Leo, you see everything; he’s at the exact same level he was at in 2022, or even better,” left-back Nicolas Tagliafico added. “He’s enjoying it, and we’re enjoying it as well.”
The already-eliminated Jordan are expecting an extremely tough test even without Messi starting the game.
"We have no idea what the Argentina coach will do with regards his starting line-up but, whoever the players are, the team is exceptional and every player deserves his place in this team," Jordan coach Jamal Sellami said.
Sources: FIFA Official
