{"id":5611,"date":"2026-06-26T23:34:50","date_gmt":"2026-06-26T23:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=5611"},"modified":"2026-06-26T23:34:50","modified_gmt":"2026-06-26T23:34:50","slug":"lionel-messi-wont-start-argentinas-group-finale-but-world-cup-scoring-record-holder-could-sub-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/orlandorelocationreport.com\/?p=5611","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi won\u2019t start Argentina\u2019s group finale, but World Cup scoring record holder could sub in"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By STEPHEN HAWKINS<\/p>\n

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) \u2014 Lionel Messi, the top scorer in World Cup history, will not start when defending tournament champion and Group J winner Argentina plays Jordan on Saturday night in its last match before the knockout stage. <\/p>\n

Read more Senegal routs 10-man Iraq 5-0 to boost hopes of reaching World Cup knockout rounds<\/a><\/p>\n

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Friday, two days after Messi\u2019s 39th birthday, that Messi will begin the game on the bench, but also indicated that he \u201cwill come in a little bit later.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scaloni didn\u2019t say when Messi might substitute into the match, or what his lineup would be against first-time World Cup participant Jordan.<\/p>\n

Messi scored all five goals for Argentina in its first two games of this tournament. He had his first World Cup hat trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria to tie the career scoring record at 16 goals, and broke that mark by scoring both goals in a 2-0 win over Austria on Monday at the home of the NFL\u2019s Dallas Cowboys \u2014 where the group finale will be played.<\/p>\n

Read more Magic open Las Vegas Summer League schedule against Hornets<\/a><\/p>\n

Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer that slowed him in the lead-up to the World Cup.<\/p>\n

While there have been no indications of any issues since, Argentina has a lot of games left if it is going to get to another World Cup final. The knockout round for La Albiceleste begins next Friday in South Florida, and that would be the first of five matches in 17 days if they make it to the final on July 19.<\/p>\n

Read more Ex-national security adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to illegally retaining classified information<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

See more of AP\u2019s World Cup coverage here <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By STEPHEN HAWKINS ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) \u2014 Lionel Messi, the top scorer in World Cup history, will not start when defending tournament champion and Group J winner Argentina plays Jordan on Saturday night in its last match before the knockout stage. 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