World Cup 2026: Lionel Messi will start the final group game on the bench

World Cup top scorer Lionel Messi will start Argentina’s final group game against Jordan on the bench, manager Lionel Scaloni has confirmed.

Messi, 39, leads the Golden Boot charts with five goals in his first two games, including a double against Austria that earned him World Cup all-time record goalscorer.

Scaloni said the decision to rest the superstar was not injury related as he spoke ahead of the match in Dallas, which kicks off at 03:00 BST on Sunday.

“Leo (Messi) will probably come in the second half,” he said.

“We talked and agreed that it was better, but obviously it’s also good for him to be in competitive form.”

He added: “The decision of who plays tomorrow is not related to who plays in the next match.

“Jordan is a good opponent, and our aim will be to win the ball and dominate possession. The opposition’s forwards are fast and we have to take that into account.”

Kylian Mbappe failed to add to his four goals in France’s 4-1 win over Norway, a game that saw Erling Haaland also stayed on the bench with four goals.

but Ousmane Dembele won the Golden Boot A controversial first-half hat-trick to make it four goals for the tournament.