Messi comes – Lionel Messi entered as a substitute and delivered again, but Argentina’s 3-1 victory over World Cup debutants Jordan also belonged to Giovani Lo Celso’s long-awaited World Cup debut and Nico Paz’s strong start. In Arlington, fans turned the stadium into a roa
ARLINGTON, Texas — The night began like a familiar script for Argentina fans: shirts with Lionel Messi’s No. 10, chants starting for him early, and the sense that everything in the national team orbit runs through the 39-year-old “astro.”
But when Albiceleste manager Lionel Scaloni announced Friday that Messi would come off the bench, the storyline shifted. That change didn’t stop the pressure building inside the stadium—fans chanted for Messi from the 46th minute onward, waiting for the moment the team’s gravity would return.
By the time the substitute finally made his entrance, Argentina had already set the stage for a win that closed in on what many supporters came for: a 3-1 victory over the World Cup debutants Jordan in a half-hour of action.
Still, for once, it wasn’t only about Messi.
Giovani Lo Celso finally made his World Cup debut after waiting through two previous cycles, and he didn’t arrive quietly—he scored. Nico Paz, described as Messi’s heir apparent, received his first World Cup start and capped his night by connecting on 50 of the 53 passes he attempted.
Even the atmosphere in Arlington carried that split focus. It was the third time in as many games in the tournament that Argentina fans filled the stadium. and the noise wasn’t subtle. The anthem of the 2022 World Cup. “Muchachos. ” has started to feel a little passé as new songs are written for this year’s run—but when it did kick in. the volume sounded like the Monumental or Bombonera in Buenos Aires. It reached levels not heard during American football contests.
Other songs were sung with the same intensity, too, and it all came after fans had arrived with time to get ready for the 9 p.m. local kick.
Giuliano Simeone, speaking on the experience of being in a World Cup match, said, “It was an incredible and unique stage. I think every player dreams about being in a World Cup game, being able to give your all, represent your country. I’m very happy about that.”
For the traveling Argentine crowd, the celebration is only getting started. After Arlington, the next stops are Miami for the round of 32 and Atlanta for the round of 16. Fans planned to start their U.S. journey in Miami and are waiting for the team’s arrival there next week. Even with some clearly chasing Messi. the cheering wasn’t limited to him—fans watched Lo Celso closely. and they cheered with the same intensity for him as they did for his fellow Rosario native.
Scaloni framed the Messi decision less as a gamble and more as a purposeful allocation of minutes. Asked Saturday night what he saw from Messi, Scaloni said, “What you all see, I see too. It’s a bit of an uncomfortable situation when you guys ask me this. because I don’t know what to say any more. The only thing I can say, if I can add anything, is he could’ve played 90 minutes today. He could’ve, without diminishing the opponent, made that legend even bigger.”.
He added that the plan was to let teammates handle more time. “He preferred for his teammates to have minutes, he preferred to think about what’s coming, and that speaks more than well of him. He doesn’t think about these numbers people talk about so much.”
The result still delivered the headline moment Argentina would never ignore. Messi scored, extending a record seventh straight World Cup match with a goal.
What followed was the kind of night that can blur. at first glance. into a single star’s highlight reel—yet the details suggest otherwise. Messi’s gravitational pull remained intact. but the scoring and the passing. the debut and the start. all pointed to a team that didn’t collapse around one player when he wasn’t on the field from the opening whistle.
Argentina now heads back to its base camp in Kansas City, where the next round of priorities begins immediately. Messi is likely to start the round of 32 match against Cape Verde. and he will be expected to play a hefty load of minutes. He has scored in each match of the World Cup group stage. and he is set to be the primary focus of the Argentina attack as the tournament moves on.
There will come a day, though, when Argentina can’t depend on Messi—on the field or commercially. That possibility sits in the background like a future injury you can’t yet see.
For Saturday night, the supporters made the point with their voices. They sang for all their muchachos—fans moving from stadium to stadium, country to country, long after Messi decides his career is over.
Right now, they’re content with what they can still get: the chance to sing his name, watch his goals, wear his name on their back, and root for a team that still runs—at least for now—on the kind of talent that can share the spotlight and still win 3-1.
Argentina Lionel Messi Giovani Lo Celso Nico Paz Jordan World Cup Arlington Kansas City Cape Verde Muchachos
Messi on the bench and still wins… classic.
Why would they take him off the bench if they needed him so bad?? Like I get it he’s Messi but that sounds like they planned for the other guys? Also Jordan?? do they mean Jordan the country or the team name is wild lol.
Lo Celso scoring is the part nobody’s saying enough about. But then they’re like “he’s waiting through two previous cycles” which is basically forever in soccer years. And Nico Paz “heir apparent”?? I swear every generation has an heir apparent and then it’s crickets after.
The article keeps saying the stadium was loud like Monumental or Bombonera but then it’s Arlington?? so are they just comparing to Argentina stadiums because it’s bigger? also “Muchachos” sounds passé already?? people act like they’re done with it and Messi just got subbed in, like how is that not the whole point. I dunno I’m just happy they won 3-1.