Messi confirms he will play against Jordan at World Cup

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has confirmed he will play in Argentina's final group-stage match against Jordan at the 2026 World Cup, according to Argentine outlet TNT. Argentina secured top place in Group 10 after beating Austria 2-0 to advance to the round of 32, combined with Algeria's 2-1 victory over Jordan. The result rendered Tuesday's match against Jordan statistically procedural. Head coach Lionel Scaloni is planning changes to the starting lineup to give playing time to squad members who have seen limited action in the tournament. Defender Cristian Romero, who picked up a knee injury against Austria, is unavailable, with Nicolás Otamendi expected to take his place. Nicolás Tagliafico and Julián Álvarez are also close to returning from injury. Messi, 39, has scored five goals in his last two matches. He opted to feature against Jordan rather than enter an 11-day break before the round-of-32 fixture in order to maintain his match rhythm.