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Lionel Scaloni has announced that Lionel Messi will begin Argentina’s final group-stage encounter on the bench, as the team has already confirmed its qualification for the next round. The head coach aims to manage his captain’s workload while offering other players in the squad a chance to showcase their abilities ahead of the knockout phase.

Messi rested as Argentina rotate

Scaloni revealed that Messi will start Argentina’s concluding group fixture against Jordan in Dallas as a substitute. With progression already guaranteed, the coach has opted to rest his captain and give playing time to other members of his squad. In a rare move from his usual approach of keeping line-up details private, Scaloni confirmed that Messi would come on later in the contest. He emphasised that this decision was primarily made to balance the veteran star’s fitness management with the opportunity for his team-mates to gain valuable minutes.

Scaloni explains his selection

Addressing the media ahead of the match, Scaloni explained his reasoning for making his plans public. He reiterated that Messi would still take part, but highlighted his intention to acknowledge the efforts of the rest of the squad.

“Lionel Messi will be on the bench, but I’m telling you because it’s you,” Scaloni told journalists. “Messi will most likely play in the second half. The main reason for this is to ensure that his team-mates also get playing time. We’ll decide later how many minutes he gets.”

Scaloni also elaborated on his rotation strategy, stating: “The players who are going to feature tomorrow deserve the opportunity. They’re part of the team, and much of what we’ve achieved is because of them. Even when they don’t play, their contribution is vital. My expectation as the coach is that the team performs the same way, even if the names on the pitch change.”

Double-striker experiment

With Messi set to come off the bench, Argentina may field Lautaro Martínez and Julián Álvarez together in attack. Scaloni confirmed that the attacking partnership remains a viable option, provided it does not disrupt the team’s overall structure.

“If the others are covering ground, Lautaro and Julián can play together,” he said. “It’s all about maintaining the team’s balance. They’ve already played alongside each other, and we’ve learned from that. I’m not ruling it out as a permanent setup, but balance is what we’re aiming for.”

Commenting on Cristian Romero’s fitness, Scaloni added: “Cuti is doing well. He didn’t train with the main group today, but he worked individually with intensity. The injury isn’t as bad as we initially thought, and that’s reassuring for us.”

Building momentum before the knockout stage

With a place in the next round already secured, the Albiceleste can use this final group game to maintain their rhythm and give playing time to squad members eager to make an impression. The match also offers a chance to sustain momentum and fine-tune strategies before the knockout rounds begin. In the round of 32, Argentina are set to meet tournament debutants Cape Verde at Miami Stadium on July 3.