World Cup: Scaloni rests Messi for Argentina’s last group game

Lionel Messi will begin on the substitutes’ bench as Argentina face Jordan in their final Group J clash at the FIFA World Cup.

The reigning world champions have qualified themselves into the last 16 rounds as the table-toppers after beating Algeria and Austria.

Messi has been in excellent form during the ongoing World Cup, finding the back of the net three times in Argentina’s first game before registering two goals against Austria. His five goals now give him an all-time World Cup record tally of 18 goals which makes him the highest goalscorer in the history of the competition. He leads the goalscoring charts in the ongoing tournament too.

This information was revealed by the Argentine team boss Lionel Scaloni ahead of the crucial fixture against Jordan. In his pre-match press conference, Scaloni responded to a question put forth by legendary Argentine journalist Macaya Márquez, who is attending his 18th consecutive World Cup at the age of 93.

“I’d never reply to any journalist on this topic now… but it is coming from you, and so I tell you: Messi will not start,” Scaloni said, while paying tribute to the veteran journalist.

The team is likely to have rotated players following their qualification for the round of 16 after being guaranteed the first position in the group.

It is anticipated that Messi will play for Argentina against Cape Verde who are making their debut in the tournament in the Round of 32 match taking place on July 3 in Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida.

If Argentina wins the cup, they will become the first nation after Brazil who won consecutive World Cups in 1962 to win consecutive FIFA World Cups.