Milan, June 27 (LaPresse) – Lionel Messi will not start when defending champions Argentina national football team face Jordan national football team on Saturday evening in their final match before the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed on Friday, two days after Messi’s 39th birthday, that the captain will start on the bench but is expected to come on later. Even though Argentina aim to remain unbeaten in the group stage for the fifth time (and the first since 2014), Messi is not the only regular starter expected to rest. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could be one of the few established starters to feature in a heavily rotated lineup. Nicolás Paz, who made his World Cup debut by coming on for Messi late in the opening match against Algeria, is expected to start in his place. “We hope the team plays in the same way. That’s what we will try to do,” Scaloni said. “Jordan is a strong opponent and we take nothing for granted. We will try to refine some aspects from the last match, but with the same intention of controlling possession and dominating the opponent.”
World Cup 2026, Argentina: Messi rested, Nico Paz to start against Jordan
Milan, June 27 (LaPresse) – Lionel Messi will not start when defending champions Argentina national football team face Jordan national football team on Saturday evening in their final match before the knockout stage of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed on Friday, two days after Messi’s 39th birthday, that the captain will start on the bench but is expected to come on later. Even though Argentina aim to remain unbeaten in the group stage for the fifth time (and the first since 2014), Messi is not the only regular starter expected to rest. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could be one of the few established starters to feature in a heavily rotated lineup. Nicolás Paz, who made his World Cup debut by coming on for Messi late in the opening match against Algeria, is expected to start in his place. “We hope the team plays in the same way. That’s what we will try to do,” Scaloni said. “Jordan is a strong opponent and we take nothing for granted. We will try to refine some aspects from the last match, but with the same intention of controlling possession and dominating the opponent.”
