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06/26 20:48 CDT Lionel Messi won't start Argentina's group finale, but World
Cup scoring record holder could sub in
Lionel Messi won't start Argentina's group finale, but World Cup scoring record
holder could sub in
By STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) --- Lionel Messi, the top scorer in World Cup history,
will not start when defending tournament champion and Group J winner Argentina
plays Jordan on Saturday night in its last match before the knockout stage.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Friday, two days after Messi's 39th
birthday, that the team's captain will begin the match on the bench, but also
indicated through an interpreter that he "will come in a little bit later."
Scaloni didn't say when Messi might substitute in to the game, or what his
lineup would be against first-time World Cup participant Jordan, which lost its
first two matches.
Messi scored all five goals for Argentina in the first two group matches, and
now has 18 goals overall in his six World Cups. He had his first-ever hat trick
in the tournament in a 3-0 win over Algeria to tie the career scoring record at
16 goals that had been held by Miroslav Klose of Germany. He broke that mark
with the goals in a 2-0 win over Austria on Monday at the home of the NFL's
Dallas Cowboys --- where the group finale will be played.
Klose played in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth
tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and
Argentina. Kylian Mbapp matched Klose at 16 with two goals in France's 3-0 win
over Iraq later Monday. Mbapp, who has four goals in the tournament, didn't
score in a 4-1 win over Norway on Friday in his final group match.
Considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, Messi has made 201
international appearances for Argentina, including a FIFA-record 28 World Cup
matches. He has scored in six consecutive World Cup games, joining France
striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho as only players to do that.
Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami of Major
League Soccer that slowed him in the lead-up to the World Cup.
While there have been no indications of any issues since, Argentina has a lot
of games left if it is going to get to another World Cup final. The knockout
round for La Albiceleste begins next Friday in South Florida, and in this
expanded 48-team tournament that would be the first of five matches in 17 days
if they make it to the final on July 19.
Even with Argentina trying to go undefeated in group play for the fifth time,
and first since 2014, Messi isn't the only starter expected to get a break.
Goalkeeper Emiliano Martnez could be the only regular starter in a lineup that
could feature several new faces. Nicols Paz, who made his World Cup debut
subbing in for Messi late in the opener against Algeria, is now expected to
start in his place.
"The hope is that the team will play the same way. That's what we're going to
try to do," Scaloni said. "Jordan is a good opponent, and we're not taking
anything for granted. We'll try to tweak some aspects of the last match, but
with the same intention of controlling the ball and dominating the opponent."
___
Associated Press writer De?bora Rey contributed to this report.
___
See more of AP's World Cup coverage here
