Lionel Messi will begin Argentina’s final group-stage match against Jordan on the bench, head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed on the eve of the fixture in Dallas. The decision, announced during a press conference at AT&T Stadium, comes with the defending champions already guaranteed first place in Group J after commanding victories over Algeria and Austria. Scaloni told reporters that Messi would “come on a little bit later,” likely in the second half, as he manages the workload of his talisman ahead of the knockout rounds.

The 39-year-old has been the tournament’s dominant figure, scoring all five of Argentina’s goals so far. A hat-trick against Algeria drew him level with Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup record of 16 goals, and a brace against Austria on Monday pushed his tally to 18, making him the standalone top scorer in the competition’s history. Across Latin American media, the rotation is framed as a pragmatic step to preserve sharpness while giving fringe players a chance; Argentine outlets note that Messi himself had been managing a minor hamstring issue during the MLS season with Inter Miami, though no fitness concerns have surfaced during the tournament.

Scaloni’s broader team selection reflects a squad in full control of its destiny. With the group won, the coach intends to field a heavily rotated side, with Emiliano Martínez the only regular starter likely to retain his place. Nicolás Otamendi will captain the side, while Marcos Senesi, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso, and Giuliano Simeone are among those expected to feature. Scaloni stressed that those coming in “deserve to play” and that the team’s philosophy of possession-based dominance would not change. Asian media reports highlight that Jordan’s coach Jamal Sellami, while acknowledging the gulf in class, sees the match as a historic opportunity for his debutant nation to gain experience against the world champions.

Jordan arrive at the fixture already eliminated after narrow defeats to Austria and Algeria. For the Asian side, competing in their first World Cup, the match carries symbolic weight. Sellami said his players would “learn and enjoy” the occasion, and Jordanian outlets have framed the encounter as part of a long-term project aimed at the 2027 Asian Cup. Despite the mismatch, Scaloni warned against complacency, noting Jordan’s speed on the counter-attack and their likely five-man defensive block.

Argentina’s next assignment is already set: a round-of-32 clash against Cape Verde on 3 July in Miami. The African side finished second in Group H after a goalless draw with Saudi Arabia, eliminating Uruguay in the process. For Scaloni’s men, the Jordan match is a final tune-up before the knockout marathon begins, with five potential matches in 17 days standing between them and a second consecutive world title.