The expanded FIFA World Cup group stage is officially wrapping up following a 0-0 draw between Portugal and Colombia on Sunday. The scoreless Group K finale locked in the final bracket as teams pivot to the newly introduced Round of 32.
With the extra knockout match looming, veteran rotation is dictating managerial strategy. Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni confirmed that 39-year-old captain Lionel Messi will start on the bench against Jordan in their Group J closer. Argentina already secured their spot in the next round.
Keeping Messi fresh is the priority, according to Scaloni, who stressed the need to preserve squad depth. Messi carries a heavy workload after a historic group stage performance. His five goals in the opening round pushed his career World Cup total to 18, officially eclipsing Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the all-time highest goalscorer in tournament history.
Cristiano Ronaldo is also marking a historic milestone as Portugal prepares for the knockouts. Following a recent brace against Uzbekistan that brought his career tournament tally to 10 goals, Ronaldo became the first player in football history to score in six consecutive World Cups. Fans tracked his training sessions as he debuted the Nike Gold Scorpion boots. The limited-edition Mercurial Superfly 11 cleats retail for $320 and are capped at exactly 2,026 pairs globally.