Can Messi Ace Argentina’s Final Group Match Against Jordan?

Whenever Lionel Messi walks onto a World Cup pitch in these final years, the moment feels like a gift. At 38 years old, in what is almost certainly his last World Cup, the greatest player the game has ever known is not merely participating—he is delivering a masterclass. Tonight under the lights at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Argentina will finish their group stage against Jordan, a matchup that appears on paper to be a foregone conclusion. But when Messi is part of the lineup, no contest is ever just a formality.

The game begins at 10 p.m. ET. Viewers in Canada can catch the broadcast on TSN and CTV.

Argentina has been utterly unstoppable throughout Group J. The defending champions opened with a commanding 3-0 win over Algeria and followed it with a 2-0 victory against Austria, both times keeping clean sheets and controlling the game from start to finish. The story of both matches centers on Messi, who has netted all five of Argentina’s goals at this tournament so far. At 38, with 116 international goals to his name, he shows no signs of slowing down. Instead, he is accelerating.

Having already secured their spot in the round of 32 as group winners, tonight’s match is technically a dead rubber. However, coach Lionel Scaloni faces a real dilemma: rest his key players ahead of the knockout rounds or allow Messi and his teammates to add further to their historic tallies.

For Jordan, this match closes a landmark chapter. Al-Nashama, known as “The Brave Ones,” qualified for their first-ever World Cup by defeating Oman 3-0 in June 2025, a result that sent the entire nation into celebration. They have competed with honesty in Group J, scoring twice across two matches, but defeats to both Austria and Algeria have ended any hope of moving forward.

Jordan arrives at AT&T Stadium with nothing but pride and history on the line. Captain Musa Al-Taamari, who plays club soccer for Rennes, will lead the attack one final time. For Jordan, putting in a respectable performance against the reigning champions on the world’s biggest stage is itself a victory.

The real talking point heading into tonight is simple: will Scaloni start Messi? With the knockout stage beginning Sunday, Argentina’s priority is freshness and fitness. Their likely round of 32 opponent comes from Group H—a bracket that includes Spain, Uruguay, Cape Verde, and Saudi Arabia. Risking Messi’s 38-year-old legs against an already-eliminated side would be a gamble few coaches would take.

The expectation is a partial appearance, either a start or a cameo, giving Messi enough runway to keep his record-breaking momentum while limiting his minutes. Even at half throttle, he remains the most dangerous player on the pitch.

Beyond the Messi spectacle, there is a broader reason to tune in: Argentina is the team Canada could eventually face deep in this tournament. Watching how Scaloni manages squad rotation, which players look sharp, and how the backline holds up even against modest opposition offers valuable scouting for what could come later in July.

And then there is the pure theatre of it. Messi at a World Cup, on a warm Texas night, with a sold-out stadium of 80,000 roaring. Whether he plays 10 minutes or 90, every touch carries the weight of a career that may never be replicated.

This is the last group stage match of Lionel Messi’s World Cup life. It is worth staying up for.