World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi will start on bench vs. Jordan, Argentina coach confirms

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed on Friday, June 27, 2026, that 39-year-old Lionel Messi will start on the bench for the group stage match against Jordan, with the expectation he will enter in the second half. Argentina has already secured first place in Group J, having won both previous matches, prompting Scaloni to rotate his squad. Messi has scored all five of Argentina's goals in the tournament, including two against Austria that made him the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 18 goals.