Lionel Messi won't start Argentina's group finale, but World Cup scoring record holder could sub in

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lionel Messi, the top scorer in World Cup history, will not start when defending tournament champion and Group J winner Argentina plays Jordan on Saturday night in its last match before the knockout stage.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Friday, two days after Messi's 39th birthday, that the team's captain will begin the match on the bench, but also indicated through an interpreter that he “will come in a little bit later.”

Scaloni didn't say when Messi might substitute in to the game, or what his lineup would be against first-time World Cup participant Jordan, which lost its first two matches.

Messi scored all five goals for Argentina in the first two group matches, and now has 18 goals overall in his six World Cups. He had his first-ever hat trick in the tournament in a 3-0 win over Algeria to tie the career scoring record at 16 goals that had been held by Miroslav Klose of Germany. He broke that mark with the goals in a 2-0 win over Austria on Monday at the home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys — where the group finale will be played.

Klose played in 24 World Cup matches for Germany, which wrapped up his fourth tournament by winning the 2014 final 1-0 in extra time over Messi and Argentina. Kylian Mbappé matched Klose at 16 with two goals in France’s 3-0 win over Iraq later Monday. Mbappé, who has four goals in the tournament, didn't score in a 4-1 win over Norway on Friday in his final group match.

Considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, Messi has made 201 international appearances for Argentina, including a FIFA-record 28 World Cup matches. He has scored in six consecutive World Cup games, joining France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho as only players to do that.

Messi had been dealing with a minor hamstring injury with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer that slowed him in the lead-up to the World Cup.

While there have been no indications of any issues since, Argentina has a lot of games left if it is going to get to another World Cup final. The knockout round for La Albiceleste begins next Friday in South Florida, and in this expanded 48-team tournament that would be the first of five matches in 17 days if they make it to the final on July 19.

Even with Argentina trying to go undefeated in group play for the fifth time, and first since 2014, Messi isn't the only starter expected to get a break.

Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez could be the only regular starter in a lineup that could feature several new faces. Nicolás Paz, who made his World Cup debut subbing in for Messi late in the opener against Algeria, is now expected to start in his place.

“The hope is that the team will play the same way. That’s what we’re going to try to do,” Scaloni said. “Jordan is a good opponent, and we’re not taking anything for granted. We’ll try to tweak some aspects of the last match, but with the same intention of controlling the ball and dominating the opponent.”

Associated Press writer Débora Rey contributed to this report.

See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Argentina's Lionel Messi, right, dribbles the ball past Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager to score his side's second goal during the World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Austria in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Argentina's Lionel Messi trains for the World Cup soccer tournament Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Argentina's Leandro Paredes, left, Lionel Messi, center, and Alexis Mac Allister train for the World Cup soccer tournament Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Argentina's Lionel Messi watches training for the World Cup soccer tournament Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

DETROIT (AP) — Keider Montero and Emmanuel De Jesus combined for a five-hitter while both Venezuelans wore hats embroidered with “VZ” after this week's earthquakes, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Houston Astros 8-0 on Friday night.

James Outman hit a three-run homer, and Kerry Carpenter and Colt Keith also homered for the Tigers.

Montero (4-5) took the mound shortly after a moment of silence for the victims of the earthquakes that struck Wednesday and left more 920 dead and more than 51,000 missing as of Friday night. He pitched seven innings and gave up five hits, struck out three and walked one.

De Jesus pitched the final two innings, striking out one and walking one.

The Tigers opened the scoring in the third inning, after Outman ran home on a throwing error by Astros catcher Yandier Diaz, who threw the ball into the outfield in an attempt to get Kevin McGonigle out stealing second. Carpenter hit a two-run homer over the right-field wall for a 3-0 lead.

Keith hit a solo shot to right in the fourth. Zach McKinstry walked and Matt Vierling singled before Outman hit his second homer of the year to make it 7-0.

McGonigle scored his second run of the game on Dylan Dingler’s RBI single to complete a five-run inning for the Tigers.

Spencer Arrighetti (7-4) pitched three innings for the Astros and gave up all eight runs. He struck out seven, walked five and gave up five hits.

RHP Kai-Wei Teng (4-6, 4.03 ERA) will start for the Astros on Saturday. LHP Framber Valez (5-4, 3.91) will start for the Tigers.

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Detroit Tigers' James Outman watches his three-run home run against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' Kerry Carpenter, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Kevin McGonigle, left, against the Houston Astros during the third inning of a baseball game Friday, June 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers pitcher Enmanuel de Jesus throws against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Detroit Tigers' James Outman, right, celebrates his three-run home run with Matt Vierling (8) and Zach McKinstry (39) against the Houston Astros during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, June 26, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)