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World Cup top scorer Lionel Messi will start Argentina’s final group match against Jordan on the bench, manager Lionel Scaloni has confirmed.<\/b><\/p>\n
Messi, 39, leads the Golden Boot standings with five goals from his first two matches, including a double against Austria that made him the World Cup’s all-time record goalscorer.<\/a><\/p>\n Scaloni said the decision to rest the superstar was not injury related as he spoke before the match in Dallas, which will kick-off at 03:00 BST on Sunday.<\/p>\n “Leo (Messi) will most likely come on in the second half,” he said.<\/p>\n “We talked and agreed that it was better that way, but obviously it’s also good for him to stay in competitive form.”<\/p>\n He added: “The decision of who plays tomorrow is not related to who plays in the next match.<\/p>\n “Jordan is a good opponent, and our intention will be to have the ball and dominate through possession. The opponent’s forwards are fast and we will have to take that into account.”<\/p>\n Kylian Mbappe failed to add to his four goals in France’s 4-1 win over Norway, a game that saw Erling Haaland, also on four goals, stay on the bench<\/a>.<\/p>\n