Argentina plans rotation against Jordan – Messi could be rested

At the center of the discussion is Lionel Messi. The captain, who turned 39 on Wednesday, has scored all five of Argentina's tournament goals so far and is therefore the sole top scorer of his team. Before the World Cup he had been suffering from a muscle injury but had recovered in time. Since the round of 16 is already secured and the workload increases as the tournament progresses, resting Messi is considered likely. Should he actually sit out, Argentina would enter the decisive phase without its most important attacking player.

In addition to Messi, other regulars could also be given a breather. Julián Álvarez, Nicolás Tagliafico, and Leandro Paredes have all had injury layoffs and are set to get their chance against Jordan. In that case, Álvarez would move into the starting lineup in place of Lautaro Martínez. Martínez has proven himself a reliable attacking option during the tournament but would initially be on the bench in the event of a rotation.

Offense and defense facing upheaval

Changes are also expected in central defense. Nicolás Otamendi, 38, could replace Cristian Romero, who is reportedly struggling with fitness after the Austria match. Otamendi brings experience from numerous major tournaments and would provide stability to the defense should Romero not recover in time. Scaloni would thereby make changes in several areas of the team simultaneously in order to conserve energy for the round of 16.

Opponents Jordan have played no role in the race for advancement in Group J and go into the match as underdogs. For Argentina, the game offers an opportunity to ease the pace of everyday tournament life without running the risk of an early elimination. Should the team successfully complete the group stage, the runner-up of Group H awaits in the round of 16. That group features Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia, meaning a strong opponent is likely for Argentina.

Looking ahead to the round of 16

Resting Messi would simultaneously send a signal to his own team: whoever takes his star out of the starting lineup is signaling confidence in the squad's depth. Players like Álvarez, Paredes, and Tagliafico have recently been absent due to injuries and can gain match practice against Jordan before things get serious in knockout mode. For Scaloni, the rotation is therefore less of a risk and more of a strategic preparation for the decisive final stretch of the tournament.

Argentina kicks off the match on Sunday at 4:00 a.m. CEST and is therefore forced to play at an unusual hour. The live broadcast will be shown on ServusTV in Austria, which explains the additional attention in the German-speaking world. For Scaloni, the priority remains clear: to enter the round of 16 with a healthy squad – and to be able to field Messi back in top form.

How long Messi will actually be out remains open. Should he be rested, his next appearance would come at the earliest in the round of 16, possibly even in a later round. Until then, it remains to be seen how the recovery and training progress of the injured players looks and which formation Scaloni ultimately chooses.