CONMEBOL Libertadores · Midfielder · #8 · Brazil · 35 yrs
Argentina take on Jordan in Matchday 3 of Group J at the 2026 World Cup, where Lionel Messi will not be in the starting lineup. Argentina face Jordan in Dallas to close out the 2026 World Cup group stage, but the biggest headline ahead of kickoff has nothing to do with the result. Lionel Messi will not be in the starting lineup for the decisive Matchday 3 fixture. Despite Messi entering the match as the tournament’s leading scorer with five goals, coach Lionel Scaloni has opted to start him on the bench for Argentina’s group finale. Stepping into the lineup in Messi’s place will be Nico Paz, who made his World Cup debut earlier in the tournament after coming on as a substitute against Algeria. The decision comes down to a combination of timing and squad management rather than any fitness concern. Argentina have already secured top spot in Group J regardless of the result against Jordan, and with nothing left to play for in terms of the standings, Scaloni is using the match to reward squad members who have featured less throughout the group stage. Scaloni was upfront about the decision when asked directly. “Leo is going to start on the bench” the Argentina coach confirmed to reporters during a press conference ahead of today’s clash. The Argentine added that “Messi will most likely play the second half” as part of a plan to manage his workload while still giving him valuable minutes before the knockout rounds begin. Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates after scoring against Austria. (Getty Images) Argentina’s lineup to face Jordan For this Matchday 3 clash, Scaloni will give several players the chance to log minutes at this World Cup, making multiple changes compared to the lineup that faced Austria. Argentina’s confirmed lineup: Emiliano Martínez; Giuliano Simeone, Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, Nicolás Tagliafico; Leandro Paredes, Exequiel Palacios, Giovani Lo Celso; Nico Paz; Julián Álvarez, Lautaro Martínez. Argentina’s Round of 32 clash with Cape Verde is set Regardless of how the Jordan match unfolds, Argentina already know exactly where their World Cup title defense continues. The result of Group H, sealed by Spain’s win over Uruguay, confirmed Cape Verde as the second-place finisher in that group, setting up a Round of 32 showdown between La Albiceleste and the World Cup debutants. The match is scheduled for Friday, July 3 at Miami Stadium, a venue with personal significance for Argentina as they claimed the Copa America title against Colombia in 2024 in that stadium. For Argentina, the matchup represents a clear opportunity to continue their push for back-to-back titles, but Scaloni’s side will be wary of a Cape Verde team that has already proven capable of frustrating much higher-ranked opposition, advancing without losing a single match.
Argentina secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Honduras at Kyle Field tonight in their first official friendly ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Argentina encountered little resistance as they cruised past Honduras at Kyle Field, securing a 2-0 victory courtesy of goals from Lautaro Martínez and Giuliano Simeone in a crucial tune-up match before the 2026 World Cup kicks off. In a match entirely dominated by the Albiceleste, the reigning world champions initially found it difficult to break the deadlock against a highly disciplined and compact Honduran defense. However, with just 10 minutes remaining in the first half, the referee pointed to the penalty spot following a foul in the area. Lautaro Martínez stepped up and confidently converted, sending Argentina into the locker room with the lead. The second half was a near-replica of the first, with Argentina dictating the tempo from start to finish. They struck early in the period when Giuliano Simeone capped off a fluid team passing sequence to double the lead. While the world champions created several dangerous opportunities to extend their advantage, a lack of clinical finishing kept the final scoreline at 2-0. Following the victory in Texas, Argentina will quickly shift their focus to their final pre-tournament warm-up match against Iceland on Tuesday, June 9, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn. It will be Lionel Scaloni’s last chance to fine-tune his squad before they officially begin their World Cup title defense against Algeria on June 16.
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