DaMarcus Beasley breaks down Lionel Messi’s lasting greatness
DaMarcus Beasley joins Lori Lindsey and Jon Arnold to discuss Lionel Messi’s lasting legacy and how he’s still performing at an elite level this late in his career.
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi will not start for La Albiceleste in the national team’s 2026 World Cup group play finale against Jordan.
Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni made the announcement on Friday, June 26 that Messi would be on the bench for the match set to take place on Saturday at 10 p.m. ET. The manager is prioritizing the health of his nation’s all-time top goal-scorer and team captain rather than letting him continue his early push for the tournament’s Golden Boot – though he will come in and look to score in the second half.
Messi’s five goals in his first two games at the World Cup were enough to earn his team back-to-back wins to open the tournament. It was also enough to set a new World Cup record in all-time goals scored by an individual (18). Thanks to the way other matches in Group J panned out, Argentina already clinched the top spot in the group after its second matchday.
With no Messi, Argentina’s starting XI against Jordan will look markedly different from the squad’s first two starting lineups.
The big question is how Giuliano Simeone will play, if he will be more of a wingback with Nicolás Tagliafico also coming forward or if he’ll be in his noormal place in attack.
Here’s how Argentina will line up to close out the team’s group stage action on June 27:
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Argentina starting lineup vs. Jordan
Goalkeeper:
Dibu Martinez
Defenders:
Giuliano Simeone, Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, Nicolás Tagliafico
Midfielders:
Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Exequiel Palacios
Forwards:
Nico Paz, Julián Álvarez, Nico González
Argentina 2026 World Cup schedule
Here’s Argentina’s remaining schedule for the group stage of the World Cup as well as what we know about its upcoming round of 32 match:
Argentina World Cup roster 2026
Goalkeepers: Emiliano Martínez (Aston Villa), Gerónimo Rulli (Olympique Marseille), Juan Musso (Atlético de Madrid)
Defenders: Leonardo Balerdi (Olympique Marseille), Nicolás Tagliafico (Olympique Lyon), Gonzalo Montiel (River Plate), Lisandro Martínez (Manchester United), Cristian Romero (Tottenham Hotspur), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica), Facundo Medina (Olympique Marseille), Nahuel Molina (Atlético Madrid)
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes (Boca Juniors), Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami), Valentín Barco (Racing Strasbourg), Giovani Lo Celso (Real Betis), Exequiel Palacios (Bayer Leverkusen), Alexis Mac Allister (Liverpool), Enzo Fernández (Chelsea)
Forwards: Julián Álvarez (Atlético Madrid), Lionel Messi (Inter Miami), Nico González (Atlético de Madrid), Thiago Almada (Atlético Madrid), Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid), Nico Paz (Como), Jose Manuel López (Palmeiras), Lautaro Martínez (Inter)
