Read 3 minutesUpdated: June 28, 2026 08:59 AM IST
Argentina vs Jordan FIFA World Cup 2026: Argentina talisman Lionel Messi will start on the bench in their final Group J match against Jordan at Arlington’s Dallas Stadium on Saturday night.
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Messi, 39, has been benched as manager Lionel Scaloni handles the minutes of his first-choice XI ahead of the Round of 32 stage that starts on Monday. The defending champions are set to face World Cup debutants Cape Verde at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, where Messi currently plays club football with Inter Miami.
The match will be played on July 3 at 6:00 PM (July 4 at 3:30 IST).
Lion will go to bench. I will stop the final starting line-up, but Leo will come later,” Scaloni told reporters.
“The greatest quality of what’s been done goes to the guys who are always there and train as hard as they can,” Scaloni said. “I think when the opportunity comes, there are great players who deserve to come as well. And the idea is for the team to play the same way.”
Messi is still likely to come on as a sub in the second half of the game.
“Hopefully the team plays the same way. That’s what we’re going to try to do,” Scaloni said. “Jordan is a good opponent, and we don’t take anything for granted. We will try to change some aspects of the last game, but with the same goal of controlling the ball and dominating the opponent.”
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Messi comes in the 60th minute
After two first-half goals from the penalty spot by Giovanni Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez, Jordan scored in the 55th minute through Moussa Tamari, who came on early in the second half. Messi soon came off the bench to replace Martinez in the 60th minute.
Argentina began their World Cup title defense without breaking a sweat, beating Algeria and Austria by comfortable margins in Group J. Led by their talismanic captain, all of Argentina’s goals have come in the form of Messi, who has a hat-trick and leads the goal-scoring charts.
Argentina starting lineup: E.Martinez (GK); Senesi, Tagliafico, Otamendi (c), Paredes, Lo Celso, Palacios, Alvarez, Simeone, Paz, La.Martinez.
Jordan’s opening line: Abulaila (GK); Nasib, al-Arab, Abu Dahab, Haddad (c), al-Rashdan, al-Rawabadeh, Abu Taha, Olwan, Azazeh, al-Fakhouri.