Is Lionel Messi playing tonight? Latest news on Argentina lineup for 2026 World Cup game vs. Jordan

Argentina return to the pitch on Saturday night for their final Group J game against Jordan, with their place in the 2026 World Cup knockout rounds already secured.

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The reigning champions’ team is, of course, headlined by captain Lionel Messi, who has been in sparkling form. The 39-year-old scored a hat-trick against Algeria and a brace against Austria to become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer, helping his team to a perfect start and top spot in the group with a game to spare.

That dominance has changed the nature of this fixture. With qualification wrapped up and Jordan already eliminated, the questions now surround how Lionel Scaloni manages his squad, and his talisman in particular, ahead of the Round of 32.

Argentina remain overwhelming favorites against the tournament debutants, but with one eye on the knockouts, Scaloni is expected to make changes. How Messi is used in this match is the main talking point.

Here’s a look at Argentina’s plan for Messi on Saturday.

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Is Lionel Messi playing tonight?

Messi is expected to start against Jordan, but with a plan in place to bring him off early as Scaloni manages his minutes. There is no injury concern, so this is purely about workload, not fitness.

Reports in Argentina indicate the captain fully intends to play and is likely to feature for around the first half before being withdrawn. It is a managed appearance designed to keep him sharp without burning unnecessary minutes in a match that has no bearing on Argentina’s progress.

There is personal motivation, too. Messi, who turned 39 on Wednesday, became the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals after his brace against Austria, moving clear of Miroslav Klose’s previous record of 16. He has now scored in six successive World Cup games and will be eager to add to that tally before the knockouts.

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Argentina lineup vs. Jordan

Messi is set to lead the line for a heavily rotated Argentina side as Scaloni rests key players ahead of the Round of 32. Argentina are expected to line up in a 4-4-2 formation.

Argentina XI (4-4-2): E. Martinez (GK) — Montiel, Otamendi, Lisandro Martinez, Tagliafico — Palacios, Paredes, Lo Celso, Almada — Messi, Lautaro Martinez

Cristian Romero is unlikely to feature after coming off with a knee injury against Austria, with Nicolas Otamendi and new Tottenham Hotspur signing Marcos Senesi in line to fill in at centre-back. Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios and Thiago Almada are among those pushing for starts, while Julian Alvarez and Jose Manuel Lopez are options in attack.

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• How World Cup qualifying works
• Explaining the expanded World Cup bracket
• Full list of teams to qualify for 2026 World Cup

When is Lionel Messi’s next World Cup match?

Messi and Argentina face Jordan on Saturday, June 27th in their final Group J match of the tournament, with kickoff at 9 p.m. CT (10 p.m. ET) at Dallas Stadium, Texas.

As Group J winners, Argentina will then advance to the Round of 32, where they begin their knockout campaign in early July against an opponent to be determined by other results. La Albiceleste are bidding to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.

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Argentina 2026 World Cup schedule