Messi World Cup Status
Lionel Messi Will Not Start Argentina's World Cup Group Finale, May Sub In
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Lionel Messi will not start Argentina's final group match against Jordan on June 27, coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed. But fans at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, shouldn't panic — Scaloni said Messi "will come in a little bit later" off the bench, according to AP.
The decision comes two days after Messi turned 39 and just days after he broke the all-time World Cup scoring record. Argentina has already clinched first place in Group J, giving Scaloni the luxury of protecting his captain's hamstring heading into a grueling knockout run, according to Houston Chronicle.
Messi Shattered the Record Books in Two Games
Messi entered this tournament with a hamstring injury from May 24, when he was pulled from an Inter Miami match after 73 minutes. Despite that scare, he was unstoppable once the tournament began. On June 16, he scored a hat trick against Algeria to tie Miroslav Klose's all-time World Cup record of 16 goals, according to FOX Sports.
Six days later, he scored twice against Austria to reach 18 career World Cup goals — surpassing Klose, Gerd Müller (14), and Just Fontaine (13). Argentina clinched first in Group J with a perfect 2-0-0 record. Messi has now scored every single one of Argentina's five goals in the 2026 tournament, according to CTPost.
Scaloni Benches Messi to Protect Him for Knockout Stage
Scaloni quietly confirmed the lineup decision to veteran journalist Enrique Macaya Márquez before his press conference, saying "I'm answering because it's you." He explained the strategy clearly: if Argentina reaches the final on July 19, the team faces five matches in just 17 days, according to WSLS.
Resting a 39-year-old with a history of hamstring problems in a match that means nothing in the standings is seen as smart "load management." Nico Paz, the 21-year-old midfielder from Como, is expected to fill Messi's creative role in the starting XI against Jordan, according to PIX11.
Fans Pay $2,500 a Seat Even Without Messi Starting
The news of Messi's benching has not cooled demand for tickets. Secondary market prices for lower-bowl seats at AT&T Stadium are still topping $2,500, according to StubHub data cited by Audacy. Over 80,000 fans are expected in attendance for the Saturday night primetime match.
FOX and Telemundo had heavily marketed the game as a "Messi vs. Jordan" showdown. His absence from the starting lineup is a blow to TV viewership. Still, Argentina sits as heavy favorites at -175 to win the match, with Jordan ranked 65 spots below them at No. 66 in the world, according to Audacy.
What Comes Next: South Florida and the Road to the Final
Argentina's knockout run begins next Friday, July 3, at Hard Rock Stadium in South Florida. They will face the runner-up from Group H. Scaloni wants a healthy, sharp Messi ready to go for that match — not a tired one who played a meaningless 90 minutes the week before, according to hjnews.com.
Messi also leads the Golden Boot race with 5 goals. Skipping meaningful minutes against 66th-ranked Jordan could cost him stat-padding opportunities, with Kylian Mbappé sitting at 3 goals and closing in. Expect a 15-to-20 minute cameo in the second half — enough to keep his rhythm, without risking the hamstring that nearly kept him out of the tournament entirely, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
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