LIONEL MESSI will be benched for Argentina’s final group game.
Messi leads the race for the Golden Boot after scoring all five of his team’s goals in their opening two matches.
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Lionel Messi will be wearing a substitute’s bib for the start of the game against Jordan Credit: AFP via Getty Images
Messi has scored five times already at the World Cup and leads the race for the Golden Boot Credit: Getty Images
Boss Lionel Scaloni confirmed captain Messi would not be in his starting 11 against Jordan – but would be given a run-out later in the game.
Scaloni said: “Leo is going to start on the bench.
“As for the formation, I won’t tell you anymore on that. And Leo will come on a little bit later.”
The news comes as a kick in the teeth to fans who have paid to go to the match.
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Tickets on Fifa’s website were at least £600 with premium seats costing around £8,000.
Argentina are guaranteed to finish top of Group J after beating Algeria and Austria.
With Messi on the bench, Nico Paz is set to start alongside Julian Alvarez up front, with Lautaro Martinez also rested, as Scaloni takes the chance to give second-string players some time on the pitch.
Messi is said to be keen not to sit out the dead rubber completely.
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At 39, he feels he would risk losing his rhythm if he did not play for 11 days between the Austria match and their last 32 game in Miami on July 3.
Scaloni said: “Those that are playing tomorrow are playing because they deserve to be playing.
“They are part of the team. They are part of all the efforts that we’ve been doing in training and selecting. It’s because of them that we’re there.
“They’re making every effort when they’re not playing. They’re the first to show up at practice. And, of course, I love to give everybody minutes.
“They’re fantastic players as well. And the dream as a coach is to have the team perform the same way independently of the players that comprise the team.”
Left back Nicolas Tagliafico, who was also part of the squad which won the World Cup four years ago, believes Messi is playing just as well as he did in Qatar.
Tagliafico said: “From what I have seen of Leo so far, he is at the same level as he was in 2022 or even better and we are enjoying this. I’m sure he is enjoying it too.”
When Messi turned 39 on Wednesday, the squad threw a party at which each player wore a T-shirt with an image of them on the pitch with the superstar.
Tagliafico added: “It was the idea of Rodrigo De Paul. It was something quite beautiful. We had a ball. We had a blast.
“It was just amazing. Leo has had many birthdays during tournaments and we spend a lot of time with each other away from our families, but this felt like we were among family.”
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni says his second-string players deserve game time Credit: FIFA via Getty Images
On a more sombre note, Scaloni and Tagliafico also sent their condolences and support to the people of Venezuela after the earthquake which killed hundreds.
Scaloni said: “I’d like to send my best wishes to the Venezuelan people. I’ve seen the images. “It’s really quite devastating, quite difficult, quite emotional.
“You’re in our thoughts, and we know that this is a very difficult moment. And anything we can do from any of the other countries to help would be, of course, fantastic.”
Tagliafico added: “I would like to send a message of support to all the Venezuelan people. I hope they will be able to overcome this as soon as possible.”
