Messi Benched for Argentina's Final Group Match

Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of the Argentina National Football Team, confirmed that Lionel Messi will not start in Argentina's final group match of the World Cup. This decision comes after Argentina has already secured qualification for the knockout stage as group winners.

Messi has had an impressive tournament so far, scoring a hat trick in Argentina's opening match and a brace against Austria, totaling five goals and leading the tournament's scoring chart with 18 goals. Scaloni made this announcement during a pre-match press conference, responding to a question from renowned Argentine journalist Macaya Márquez.

The decision to rest the 39-year-old captain is part of a strategy to rotate the squad and ensure readiness for the knockout rounds. Argentina is set to face tournament debutants Cape Verde on July 3 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, as they aim to successfully defend their World Cup title, seeking to become the first nation since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back FIFA World Cups.