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.
Fresh faces get their chance
Nicolás 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.
Overall, Scaloni made nine changes from the side that defeated Austria 2-0 in the previous match.
Messi continues to rewrite World Cup history
Messi has now played 201 international matches for Argentina, including a FIFA-record 28 World Cup appearances.
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.
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.
He struck his first-ever World Cup hat-trick against Algeria before adding his fifth goal in injury time against Austria.
Record-breaking goal tally
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.
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.
France star Kylian Mbappé 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.
Mbappé, 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.
Argentina set for Cape Verde challenge
As Group J winners, Argentina will now face Cape Verde in the round of 32 on Friday in Miami.
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.
