Messi to start dead-rubber World Cup group match on bench

Lionel Messi is set to begin Argentina's final group match against Jordan from the bench, a surprising move since the reigning champions have already secured their place at the top of the group. This decision by coach Lionel Scaloni suggests he's prioritizing the team's overall fitness and rotation for the knockout stages. Messi's benching in this inconsequential match highlights the strategic depth and resource management being employed, aiming to keep key players fresh for more critical encounters ahead. This move also underscores the broader trend of teams adopting more conservative approaches to manage player workloads during high-stakes tournaments.