Scaloni rests Messi for Argentina's final group game as World Cup record stands at 18

Lionel Messi will not start Argentina’s final Group J match against Jordan on Saturday, coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed, with the world champions already assured of top spot and their all-time record-holder being managed carefully ahead of the knockout rounds.

The decision follows a remarkable opening two games for the 2026 World Cup holders. Messi scored his first career hat-trick at a World Cup in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria before adding two more in a 2-0 victory over Austria — the second of those goals lifting him past Miroslav Klose to become the outright leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 18 goals.

With six points from six, Argentina have already clinched first place in Group J and have nothing at stake against Jordan, who have been eliminated from knockout contention. Algeria and Austria are still battling for the group’s second qualifying berth.

Scaloni’s call to rest Messi means the forward would have ten days off before Argentina’s round of 32 fixture on Friday, 3 July against the runner-up from Group H. Should they progress, a round of 16 tie would follow just four days later on 7 July — a tight turnaround that makes preserving Messi’s fitness a logical priority.

Messi currently leads the Golden Boot race with five goals, though four players sit just one behind him. France’s Kylian Mbappé, two goals back, did not score in France’s 4-1 win over Norway on Friday, leaving him three short of Messi’s record with the group stage drawing to a close.