Lionel Messi starting a World Cup match on the bench is not a normal football event anymore. It is history pausing for a second look. Argentina’s final Group J game against Jordan at Dallas Stadium had already been shaped by the larger context of the tournament: the defending champions were through, their knockout place was secure, and Lionel Scaloni had the luxury of rotation. But Messi’s name among the substitutes still carried its own weight.
Lionel Messi in the 2006 World Cup. (X images)
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Scaloni made sweeping changes for the Jordan game, resting several first-choice players with the Round of 32 ahead. Messi, who had carried Argentina through the first two group matches in spectacular fashion, was the biggest name protected. Argentina had beaten Algeria 3-0 and Austria 2-0 before this, with Messi at the heart of everything. He came into the Jordan match not just as Argentina’s leader, but as the tournament’s central figure once again.
That is why the benching felt bigger than a routine selection call. For nearly two decades, Messi and World Cup football have been inseparable from Argentina’s starting XI. The last time he began a World Cup match on the bench was way back in 2006, when Argentina faced Germany in the quarter-final.
The 2006 memory Argentina never fully forgot
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That match in Berlin remains one of the defining early chapters of Messi’s World Cup story. He was only 19 then, still the prodigy waiting to fully become the phenomenon. Argentina took the lead through Roberto Ayala and looked set for the semi-finals before Miroslav Klose equalised for Germany in the 80th minute.
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That match in Berlin remains one of the defining early chapters of Messi’s World Cup story. He was only 19 then, still the prodigy waiting to fully become the phenomenon. Argentina took the lead through Roberto Ayala and looked set for the semi-finals before Miroslav Klose equalised for Germany in the 80th minute.
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The game went to extra time and then penalties. Messi stayed on the bench throughout. He was not used by Jose Pekerman, even as Argentina searched for a late spark against the hosts. Germany eventually won 4-2 in the shootout, knocking Argentina out of the tournament.
In hindsight, the unused Messi became one of the great “what ifs” of Argentina’s modern World Cup history. It was not yet his team in 2006, but the defeat grew into part of the legend: the night Argentina had a future all-time great available and never turned to him.
Twenty years later, the picture is completely different. Against Jordan, Messi was not benched because he was waiting for his era. He was benched because he has defined one. The 2006 decision carried regret. The 2026 decision carries protection, planning and power. Argentina can now afford to rest Messi because Messi has already done the damage.
Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it.
Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences.
Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport.
He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.
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Home/Sports/Football/Lionel Messi benched after 20 years, history returns: The 2006 World Cup call that still stings
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