Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni confirms that captain Lionel Messi will start on the bench for the defending champions’ final World Cup Group J match against Jordan. Multiple outlets report Scaloni is rotating the team for the match, with Messi expected to play later rather than starting. The decision comes after Argentina have already secured the top spot in Group J, meaning the final group game is effectively not decisive for their tournament position. Reports add that Argentina qualify for the Round of 32 after earlier results, including wins over Algeria and Austria. NDTV and Yahoo Sports also note that Scaloni is likely to heavily change the starting XI, and NDTV specifically mentions goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez as a possible lone first-choice starter. The rest is presented by outlets as a workload-management and fitness move as Argentina prepare for the more demanding knockout stages. None of the sources indicate a new injury in relation to the decision, instead framing it as a strategic approach to ensure Messi is available for later rounds.