Lionel Messi will start Argentina’s final group game against Jordan on Saturday on the bench with the reigning champions already assured of top spot, coach Lionel Scaloni said.<\/p>\n
\u00abLeo will come on later and I\u2019ve already confirmed the team, but we\u2019re going to announce it tomorrow,\u00bb Scaloni told reporters on Friday.<\/p>\n
Argentina have already sealed top spot in Group J after wins over Austria (2-0) and Algeria (3-0).<\/p>\n
The captain Messi, who turned 39 on Wednesday, has scored all Argentina’s goals so far at the tournament in North America to become the leading scorer in World Cup history.<\/p>\n
With Argentina into the last 32 and debutants Jordan already eliminated, Scaloni is expected to ring the changes.<\/p>\n
Argentina will face the team that comes second in Group H, which comprises Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Nicol\u00e1s Tagliafico, the left back who plays in France, said he felt Messi was better than ever.<\/p>\n
\u00abHe’s at the very exact same level as in 2022, or even better, I would say,\u00bb said the 33-year-old.<\/p>\n
For Messi’s birthday the Argentina players wore specially made T-shirts in his honour and there was also a cake.<\/p>\n
\u00abI think that this was something quite beautiful,\u00bb said Tagliafico.<\/p>\n
\u00abAt the end of the day these are just small details.<\/p>\n
\u00abYou know [how it is]\u00a0when you have to live together for such a long time, when you see everybody’s faces every single day.<\/p>\n
\u00abWe had a ball, we just had a blast.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u2013 TIMES\/AFP<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\nrelated news<\/h6>\n<\/p>\n<\/section>\n