ARLINGTON, Texas: Defending champions Argentina secured a flawless entry into the FIFA World Cup 2026™ knockout rounds after a convincing 3-1 victory over Jordan in their final Group J match. Coming off the bench in the second half, captain Lionel Messi sealed the victory with a trademark free-kick, breaking a historic tournament record in the process.
With his spectacular 80th-minute goal, Messi became the first player in football history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches, surpassing legends Just Fontaine and Jairzinho. The strike marks his sixth goal of the 2026 tournament and extends his overall record-breaking World Cup tally to 19 goals.
Match Highlights:
Despite manager Lionel Scaloni making wholesale changes to rest key starters, Argentina dictated the tempo from the opening whistle.
- The Opener (19′): Giovani Lo Celso put La Albiceleste ahead early by curling a beautiful left-footed free-kick into the net from the top of the penalty area.
- Doubling the Lead (31′): After Julián Álvarez was fouled inside the box, Lautaro Martínez calmly stepped up to convert the penalty, making it 2-0 before halftime.
- Jordan Fights Back (55′): Jordan briefly revived their hopes early in the second half when star winger Musa Al-Taamari found the net, marking the first goal Argentina conceded in the tournament.
- The Record Breaker (80′): Having entered the match as a substitute in the 60th minute, Lionel Messi drew a foul just outside the penalty box. He then masterfully curled the free-kick through the wall to put the game to rest at 3-1.
With three consecutive wins, Argentina finishes at the top of Group J with a perfect 9 points. They are now scheduled to face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 on Friday in Miami.
Story Summary
Lionel Messi created history by becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches after netting a free-kick goal against Jordan. This goal marked his sixth of the tournament, further solidifying his extraordinary form in the ongoing World Cup.
