For 120 minutes, Spain did what no other team at this World Cup had managed.

It found a way to keep Lionel Messi quiet.

The plan was simple in theory but brutally difficult in practice. Every time the 39-year-old drifted towards the right flank, another red shirt arrived. His every passing lane closed and every familiar slalom towards his left foot was met by bodies rather than space.

“The first idea was to keep Messi at bay,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente admitted afterwards. He had learned his lesson when a 16-year-old Messi had terrorised his Sevilla team in an under-19 match in 2004.

But here, rather than man-marking the Argentine talisman, the Spanish coach looked at cutting the supply and isolating Messi. The Argentine captain managed only 15 touches in the first half and 54 across the entire final. There was no trademark curling finish, no defence-splitting pass, no decisive intervention.

The overwhelming majority of the 80,663 spectators had come hoping to witness another coronation. They wanted to see the man who had already given them one of football’s greatest endings add one final chapter by lifting a second World Cup.

Instead, the faithful watched him leave in tears.

It was here in MetLife in 2016, when Messi had missed in the Copa America final shootout against Chile and announced his international retirement before making a comeback 47 days later to complete his redemption arc.

Ten years later, he returned to the same stadium seeking one final crown, only for it to deny him again.

As Spain celebrated at the centre circle, Messi and his teammates walked towards the Argentina supporters gathered behind the southern goal. The applause that greeted them was as loud as anything heard all evening. Spain’s players, too, understood the moment.

Several, including Lamine Yamal, crossed the pitch to embrace Messi after the final whistle. Later, as Argentina climbed the podium to collect its runner-up medals, the new world champion formed a guard of honour. A few patted him on the back, Messi tried to smile, but the disappointment was hard to contain.

One match, however, cannot rewrite a career.

Messi leaves the World Cup as its most enduring presence with 34 appearances, 23 victories, 21 goals, 27 matches as captain, seven goals from outside the penalty area, 10 knockout-stage assists and, above all, the man who finally completed football’s greatest story by lifting the trophy in 2022. He remains the only player to score in every knockout round of a World Cup-winning campaign.

Spain may have denied him one final triumph, but no one can take away the imprint he has left on this tournament.

For generations to come, the World Cup’s story will be retold through many champions, but few names will echo as deeply as that of Lionel Messi’s.

For 120 minutes, Spain did what no other team at this World Cup had managed.

It found a way to keep Lionel Messi quiet.

The plan was simple in theory but brutally difficult in practice. Every time the 39-year-old drifted towards the right flank, another red shirt arrived. His every passing lane closed and every familiar slalom towards his left foot was met by bodies rather than space.

“The first idea was to keep Messi at bay,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente admitted afterwards. He had learned his lesson when a 16-year-old Messi had terrorised his Sevilla team in an under-19 match in 2004.

But here, rather than man-marking the Argentine talisman, the Spanish coach looked at cutting the supply and isolating Messi. The Argentine captain managed only 15 touches in the first half and 54 across the entire final. There was no trademark curling finish, no defence-splitting pass, no decisive intervention.

The overwhelming majority of the 80,663 spectators had come hoping to witness another coronation. They wanted to see the man who had already given them one of football’s greatest endings add one final chapter by lifting a second World Cup.

Instead, the faithful watched him leave in tears.

It was here in MetLife in 2016, when Messi had missed in the Copa America final shootout against Chile and announced his international retirement before making a comeback 47 days later to complete his redemption arc.

Ten years later, he returned to the same stadium seeking one final crown, only for it to deny him again.

As Spain celebrated at the centre circle, Messi and his teammates walked towards the Argentina supporters gathered behind the southern goal. The applause that greeted them was as loud as anything heard all evening. Spain’s players, too, understood the moment.

Several, including Lamine Yamal, crossed the pitch to embrace Messi after the final whistle. Later, as Argentina climbed the podium to collect its runner-up medals, the new world champion formed a guard of honour. A few patted him on the back, Messi tried to smile, but the disappointment was hard to contain.

One match, however, cannot rewrite a career.

Messi leaves the World Cup as its most enduring presence with 34 appearances, 23 victories, 21 goals, 27 matches as captain, seven goals from outside the penalty area, 10 knockout-stage assists and, above all, the man who finally completed football’s greatest story by lifting the trophy in 2022. He remains the only player to score in every knockout round of a World Cup-winning campaign.

Spain may have denied him one final triumph, but no one can take away the imprint he has left on this tournament.

For generations to come, the World Cup’s story will be retold through many champions, but few names will echo as deeply as that of Lionel Messi’s.

Lionel Scaloni has changed little so far at this World Cup. Between Argentina’s first two matches, the coach made only one alteration to his starting lineup, preferring continuity as the defending champion moved into the knockout rounds.

But after wins over Algeria and Austria, Scaloni’s challenge now is about protecting legs and giving minutes to the rest of his squad while still carrying the momentum into the knockouts as his team takes on Jordan in its final Group J game on Sunday (June 28, 2026) morning India time.

“The idea is to give most players a chance to play. I think they deserve it and, whenever the match allows it, we will do so,” Scaloni said.

The main question, inevitably, concerns Lionel Messi. The Argentina captain, who turned 39 on Wednesday, has scored all five of his team’s goals in the tournament so far.

Having recently recovered from a muscle strain, Messi could be rested, with Como’s Nico Paz among those in line to step up. Julian Alvarez could also be given a start alongside Lautaro Martinez in attack.

Giuliano Simeone is another who may come into the side on the right, while Thiago Almada could retain his place on the left. In midfield, Leandro Paredes and Exequiel Palacios are options to give Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister a breather.

There could be changes in defence as well. Cristian Romero suffered a knee injury against Austria and, although he has played down concerns, Argentina is unlikely to take unnecessary risks.

Nicolas Otamendi could replace him, while Marcos Senesi may come in to give Lisandro Martinez a rest. The full backs may remain unchanged to offer stability, with Emiliano Martinez expected to continue in goal.

Jordan, meanwhile, has little choice but to suffer without the ball. Jamal Sellami’s side is expected to sit deep in a back three, stay compact and try to frustrate Argentina for as long as it can. Its best route forward will be through quick counters, with Mousa Al-Tamari the obvious outlet.

Trading blows with Argentina, even a rotated Argentina, is not an option.

The world champion will dominate possession regardless of Scaloni’s starting XI. But it remains to be seen how quickly its reshuffled attack can find a way through Jordan’s low block.

Thousands of supporters from the Jordanian diaspora are expected in Dallas, turning an otherwise routine group-stage fixture into another vibrant evening of colour and noise. Sharing a pitch with the reigning world champion and arguably football’s greatest player will be a landmark moment for a nation making its first appearance in a World Cup.

For Argentina, however, sentiments can wait. The knockout rounds begin soon, where every mistake becomes irreversible. Saturday offers one final opportunity to sharpen combinations, protect players and perhaps allow Messi to add another record before the tournament truly starts.