Messi is out of the starting lineup but could play in Argentina's group finale against Jordan
· schuyler dixon
Source Summary
Lionel Messi is out of the starting lineup as expected for Argentina’s group stage finale with first place secured going into a matchup against Jordan, which is already eliminated from the knockout round. Coach Lionel Scaloni has suggested Messi, the all-time leading men’s World Cup scorer, could come off the bench at AT&T Stadium on Saturday night, three days after his 39th birthday. Nicolás Paz, who made his World Cup debut subbing in for Messi late in the 3-0 win over Algeria in the opener, is among nine different starters from the previous game, a 2-0 victory over Austria.
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