Should Lionel Messi still start final group match vs. Jordan?
Should Lionel Messi still start final group match vs. Jordan?Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros of The Cooligans decide if Argentina should preserve Mess for the knockout round or let him chase history in the final match of J. Check out the full conversation on the “The Cooligans” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.2:19Now PlayingPaused
Will Mbappe catch Messi for goals record in this World Cup?2:19Now PlayingPausedWorld Cup Group J Preview: Messi's Last Dance for Argentina1:20Now PlayingPaused
Does Messi still need to do more to secure GOAT status?1:30Now PlayingPaused
Why Algeria poses ‘the toughest test’ for Argentina1:43Now PlayingPaused
Why Mbappé, not Messi will set new World Cup goals record2:23Now PlayingPaused
Who had the best night: Mbappe, Messi, or Haaland?1:13Now PlayingPaused
Will Lionel Messi end GOAT debate at final World Cup?2:55Now PlayingPaused
World Cup contenders beware: Messi and Argentina look better than ever1:03Now PlayingPaused
Magnificent Messi: Argentina star steals show with World Cup hat trick1:27Now PlayingPaused
Should Lionel Messi still start final group match vs. Jordan?
Christian Polanco·Alexis GuerrerosWed, June 24, 2026 at 6:42 PM UTCChristian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros of The Cooligans decide if Argentina should preserve Mess for the knockout round or let him chase history in the final match of J. Check out the full conversation on the “The Cooligans” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.
AdvertisementAdvertisementVideo Transcript
Lionel Messi will start in the final group game against, Jordan.
Um- That take is as refreshing as this Mirinda.
It's crazy.
it Look, plenty of reason not to, obviously rest the GOAT and blah, blah, blah.
But they, I, th- there's, there's something to be said about what this man is doing, whether it's, it, if it, it is to, continue to pursue that, World Cup goal record and maybe, or, lengthen the goal re- record so that Mbappe cannot catch up.
I, I have a feeling that he knows it's his last World Cup.
It's on his mind.
He doesn't wanna leave without w- with saying like, "Oh man, I wish I would've tried to keep that goal record for, for longer than two weeks."
AdvertisementAdvertisementYou know what I mean?
Yeah.
So after, taking over the goal record from Miroslav Klose, the, the, the German.
So I think it, it's not even about, like, pettiness, but I think he's aware of his legacy and, and, I'm sure Adidas is like, "Yo, Messi, go for the record, man."
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
"It's gonna help us sell."
"Hey man, we loving this."
We're a big fan of that.
"Damn, who spilled all these penalties we were issued by?"
So, and Jordan, with all due respect, they're already, out of the tournament, and, this game, not to say the game doesn't mean much, but they, you know, as far as, moving on to the next round, that is not a possibility.
And, I mean, and then for Me- Lionel Messi, it's a little bit of like, "Oh boy, this is-" Here we go again.
I'm gonna, I'm gonna have a good time, with this.
So, I, I think, yeah, I think he starts in the last game.
And, and also an interesting thing with Lionel Messi is, like, and we've seen it with Inter Miami, is he really does not wanna miss game.
He does not wanna be benched.
He does not wanna be subbed out.
he, like I, I think even subbing him out, Sc- Scaloni subbing him out after the, after his hat trick, he's still a little bit like, "Oh man, I could, probably could've gotten four."
You know what I mean?
AdvertisementAdvertisementYeah.
Like, he, he is that much of a, a, of just a diehard, like, just play.
And, and there's also a part of, him that is like, "These people paid to come see me.
I wanna make sure that they get their, their show.
They wanna get, get, get the, get their money's worth."
I think there's a major mistake to start him in the 30th, but- You think I understand that.
Yeah, but I- But I, but I think- And if you do it, maybe you pull him in the 30th, maybe get a goal quick and let's pull you in the 30th.
Okay.
Okay.
I get your point, and I hope he does start for the fans.
But if you are Scaloni, put that dude on the bench.
- Should Lionel Messi still start final group match vs. Jordan?Christian Polanco and Alexis Guerreros of The Cooligans decide if Argentina should preserve Mess for the knockout round or let him chase history in the final match of J. Check out the full conversation on the “The Cooligans” podcast - and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.2:19Now PlayingPaused
- Will Mbappe catch Messi for goals record in this World Cup?2:19Now PlayingPaused
- Does Messi still need to do more to secure GOAT status?1:30Now PlayingPaused
- Why Algeria poses ‘the toughest test’ for Argentina1:43Now PlayingPaused
- Why Mbappé, not Messi will set new World Cup goals record2:23Now PlayingPaused
- Who had the best night: Mbappe, Messi, or Haaland?1:13Now PlayingPaused
- Will Lionel Messi end GOAT debate at final World Cup?2:55Now PlayingPaused
- World Cup contenders beware: Messi and Argentina look better than ever1:03Now PlayingPaused
- Magnificent Messi: Argentina star steals show with World Cup hat trick1:27Now PlayingPaused
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
