Lionel Messi during a training session on the eve of the 2026 World Cup Group J match between Jordan and Argentina. | Photo Credit: AFP

Argentina is taking on Jordan in its final group game of the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Dallas on Saturday.

Argentine talisman Lionel Messi is starting off the bench against Jordan, which is already eliminated from the World Cup.

Why is Messi not starting vs Jordan?

Argentina is already through to the Round of 32 as the group topper after beating Austria and Algeria earlier on.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said on Friday, two days after Messi’s 39th birthday, that the team’s captain will begin the match on the bench, but also indicated that Messi “will come in a little bit later.”

Scaloni didn’t say when Messi might substitute in to the game, or what his lineup would be against first-time World Cup participant Jordan, which lost its first two matches.

Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer that slowed him in the lead-up to the World Cup.

While there have been no indications of any issues since, Argentina has a lot of games left if it is going to get to another World Cup final. The knockout round for La Albiceleste begins next Friday in South Florida, and in this expanded 48-team tournament that would be the first of five matches in 17 days if they make it to the final on July 19

Published on Jun 28, 2026