BUENOS AIRES — Argentina national team manager Lionel Scaloni has confirmed that team captain Lionel Messi will not be included in the starting lineup for the reigning world champions’ final group-stage fixture against Jordan.
The significant tactical revelation occurred during a pre-match press conference ahead of the encounter, breaking Scaloni’s long-standing operational policy of withholding team selection details from the media. The disclosure was prompted by a direct question from 91-year-old legendary Argentine broadcaster Enrique Macaya Márquez, who is currently in the field covering his 18th consecutive FIFA World Cup tournament.
When queried by Márquez regarding whether the Inter Miami forward would feature in the match, Scaloni initially reiterated his strict policy against discussing individual player deployments with reporters prior to official team sheet submissions. However, the manager immediately conceded that the unique identity and unmatched professional longevity of the veteran journalist warranted an exception to his media rules, explicitly confirming that Messi would begin the match on the substitutes’ bench.
Following the formal confirmation, Scaloni expressed his deep personal admiration and professional respect for Márquez, stating before the assembled press corps that it remained an absolute honor to see the nonagenarian continuing to report on international football at the highest level. The national team coach then left the media podium to share a warm embrace and pose for an official photograph with the iconic broadcaster.
The decision to bench the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner arrives as a calculated strategic maneuver by the Argentine technical staff. Having already secured mathematical qualification to the Round of 32 knockout stage following successive victories in their opening matches, the coaching staff opted to prioritize physical recovery for their talismanic captain to mitigate the risk of soft-tissue injuries before the single-elimination phase commences.
Messi’s absence from the opening whistle opens up a vital squad vacancy in Argentina’s attacking trident. Team analysts anticipate that Atlético Madrid forward Ángel Correa or Roma’s Paulo Dybala will be handed a starting role alongside Lautaro Martínez to spearhead the frontline against the Jordan national team, allowing the veteran playmaker a complete rest cycle before the tournament bracket intensifies next week.
