Lionel Messi will begin Argentina’s ultimate 2026 FIFA World Cup Group J match in opposition to Jordan on the bench, head coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed.
Softfootball understands Scaloni revealed in his pre-match press convention that the Argentina captain will start in its place earlier than being launched later within the recreation.
The choice comes with Argentina already via to the Spherical of 32 as Group J winners after victories over Algeria (3-0) and Austria (2-0). The reigning world champions will face Group H runners-up Cape Verde within the subsequent spherical.
Messi has loved a sensational begin to the event, scoring all 5 of Argentina’s targets thus far. The Inter Miami star netted a hat-trick in opposition to Algeria earlier than including a brace in opposition to Austria, taking his tally to a record-breaking 18 targets in males’s FIFA World Cup historical past.
The 39-year-old had been managing a minor left hamstring subject within the build-up to the event, with Argentina opting to handle his workload forward of the knockout phases.
