\n
\n<\/p>\n
Jordan have already been knocked out of the tournament, while Argentina are safely through to the knockout stage. <\/p>\n
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni had hinted that Messi, who turned 39 three days earlier, could make an appearance from the bench during the match at AT&T Stadium. <\/p>\n
Fresh faces get their chance <\/p>\n
Nicol\u00e1s Paz was included in the starting lineup after making his World Cup debut as a substitute for Messi late in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in the opening game. <\/p>\n
Overall, Scaloni made nine changes from the side that defeated Austria 2-0 in the previous match. <\/p>\n
Messi continues to rewrite World Cup history <\/p>\n
Messi has now played 201 international matches for Argentina, including a FIFA-record 28 World Cup appearances. <\/p>\n
He has scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, becoming only the third player to achieve the feat after France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil legend Jairzinho. <\/p>\n
Heading into the final round of group-stage matches, Messi led the tournament scoring chart with five goals, all of Argentina’s goals so far. <\/p>\n
He struck his first-ever World Cup hat-trick against Algeria before adding his fifth goal in injury time against Austria. <\/p>\n
Record-breaking goal tally <\/p>\n
Messi’s two goals against Austria took his overall World Cup tally to 18, breaking the previous record of 16 that he shared with Germany great Miroslav Klose. <\/p>\n
This is Messi’s sixth World Cup appearance. Klose played 214 international matches across four World Cups between 2002 and 2014, with his final World Cup goal coming in Germany’s 1-0 win over Argentina in the 2014 final. <\/p>\n
France star Kylian Mbapp\u00e9 equalled Klose’s tally of 16 World Cup goals by scoring twice in a 3-0 victory over Iraq just hours after Messi broke the record. <\/p>\n
Mbapp\u00e9, who is among several players with four goals in this tournament, did not score in France’s 4-1 win over Norway in their final group-stage game. <\/p>\n
Argentina set for Cape Verde challenge <\/p>\n
As Group J winners, Argentina will now face Cape Verde in the round of 32 on Friday in Miami. <\/p>\n
It will be Cape Verde’s first appearance in a FIFA World Cup knockout match, while the game will also be played in the home city of Messi’s MLS club. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n