Argentina May Rest Most Starters Against Jordan, With Messi’s Role Unclear

Argentina is debating its lineup for the final match of the group stage against Jordan, after the world champions opened with two straight wins, 3-0 over Algeria and 2-0 over Austria. The game will close out their group phase in the 2026 World Cup, and reports in Argentina say coach Lionel Scaloni is preparing sweeping changes.

According to those reports, Scaloni is expected to rotate almost the entire starting XI from the last two games, with only one or two players likely to keep their places. One player who is determined to stay in the lineup is goalkeeper Dibu Martinez. The colorful keeper wants to play every World Cup match and was one of Argentina’s key figures on the way to the 2022 title.

The other possible starter is Lionel Messi, but his status remains uncertain. Local reporting says Messi is expected to feature against Jordan, though it is not yet clear whether he will start and be substituted later, or begin on the bench. The broader expectation is that he will get minutes in the match.