Lionel Messi will not start Argentinaโs third World Cup match against Jordan, scheduled for early Sunday morning at 4:00.
Coach Lionel Scaloni said on Friday that the captain would make the bench. Answering a question from 91-year-old commentator Macaya Marquez, he added that Messi would take the field after the break.
Messi is the tournamentโs top scorer with five goals and is now the World Cupโs all-time top scorer with 18 goals. He will have to wait to increase those numbers.
The Argentine captain is 39 years old and has 201 international caps and 122 international goals to his name.
Already through to the round of 16 after victories over Algeria 3-0 and Austria 2-0, the world champions lead Group J heading into the final group stage match. Messi has scored all of Argentinaโs goals so far.