Report: Messi Wants to Play Against Jordan as Scaloni Considers Heavy Rotation

Argentina, already assured of first place and a place in the knockout stage, will finish its group-stage schedule against Jordan between Saturday and Sunday at 5:00 a.m. Israel time in Arlington, Texas. The world champions want another win to carry momentum into the round of 32, but coach Lionel Scaloni is weighing whether to field his strongest lineup or rest players.

According to reports in Argentina, Lionel Messi has no doubt about what he wants. The Argentina captain reportedly wants to play against Jordan, regardless of how many minutes he gets, and would even be satisfied with a short appearance off the bench. His main motivation is not only to add to his goal tally and strengthen his standing as the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, but also to stay in rhythm and fit for the real challenge ahead.

The Argentine media says Messi is concerned that if he sits out, he would have to wait a long time for his next match. There will be 11 days between Argentina’s previous game against Austria, in which Messi scored twice, and the knockout round.

Meanwhile, the newspaper Clarin reported that Scaloni is considering a broad rotation for the final group match. In recent training sessions, he tested a lineup that included Nico Paz and Julian Alvarez. Paz, who belongs to Real Madrid, could be given a start if the coaching staff decides not to open with Messi.