2026 World Cup: Lionel Messi will start on the bench against Jordan, confirms Scaloni
By OnzeActu · · 2 min read
Lionel Messi will be a substitute in Argentina's next group match against Jordan at the 2026 World Cup. Coach Lionel Scaloni plans to bring the star in in the second half to preserve his strength for the final stages.
Lionel Messi will start on the bench in Argentina's group stage match against Jordan in the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Scaloni confirmed to the press this Friday. At 39, the Argentine striker, who scored all five goals for La Albiceleste in this World Cup, including two against Austria to become the top scorer in the history of the final stages of the World Cup with 18 goals, will benefit from a period of rest. If he does not play against Jordan, Messi would thus avoid an eleven-day break before the round of 16 scheduled for July 3 against Cape Verde, Uruguay or Spain.
Argentina has already validated its first place in Group J, after its 3-0 success against Algeria and 2-0 against Austria. This situation allows Scaloni to rest several key players and offer playing time to those who are less in demand, like Nico Paz or Giovani Lo Celso, authors of few minutes until then. The coach clarified that Messi, suffering from muscle fatigue in his left thigh contracted during an MLS match with Inter Miami at the end of May, is not injured. He should make his debut during the second half.
Left defender Nicolás Tagliafico said that despite qualifying, the team is determined to finish the group stage undefeated. “We must not let our guard down or relax, even if we are already qualified,” he insisted.
This strategy illustrates Argentina's desire to manage its squad carefully and intelligently to approach the rest of the tournament in the best possible conditions, with Messi relaxed but ready to fight.
Photo: Lionel Messi during the 2026 World Cup (Image credit: DR)