Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni revealed ahead of their 3-0 win over Jordan that Lionel Messi would start the game from the bench.
The World Cup all-time goalscorer has been in superb form for La Albiceleste, scoring all of their five goals in their opening two matches.
Argentina opened their campaign with a 3-0 win over Algeria, before beating Austria 2-0 in their second group game to finish top.
Speaking ahead of the game, Scaloni confirmed that Messi would not be among the starters and would only come on at a point in the second half.
“Leo [Messi] will most likely come on in the second half”, Scaloni had said.
“We talked and agreed that it was better that way, but obviously it’s good for him to stay in competitive form.
“The decision of who plays tomorrow is not related to who plays in the next match.”
Meanwhile, Argentina went on to record a 3-1 win over Jordan to complete a clean sweep and finish on nine points from the group.
Giovani Lo Celso had opened the scoring from a free kick in the 19th minute to give Argentina the lead.
They were awarded a penalty after Marcos Senesi was fouled in the area, with the spot-kick awarded after the referee had consulted on the pitchside monitor.
Lautaro Martinez stepped up and duly converted for the first First-ever World Cup goal to put Argentina in a commanding position heading into the halftime break.
The Inter Milan forward doubled his tally after halftime, but it was correctly ruled out for offside, before he smashed the cross bar with another attempt.
Jordan halved the deficit a few minutes later through Mousa Tamari, but Messi would have the final impact on the game with a free kick goal in the second half to make the scoreline 3-1.
It marked his sixth goal of the tournament and he made history in the process, becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
Argentina will now go up against Cape Verde in their Round of 32 clash, as they continue the defence of their title.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
