Lionel Messi needed only 20 minutes to make history. The Argentina captain came off the bench and curled an 80th-minute free kick past Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila as the defending champions beat Jordan 3-1 in Arlington, Texas, completing a perfect Group J campaign at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The goal gave Messi a record 19 World Cup goals and made him the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup appearances. Argentina finished the group stage with nine points, eight goals scored and only one conceded before advancing to face Cape Verde in the Round of 32.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni rested most of his regular starters after qualification had already been secured, making nine changes to his lineup. Giovani Lo Celso opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Lautaro Martínez doubled the lead from the penalty spot in the 31st after Julián Álvarez was fouled inside the area.
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Jordan responded after halftime when Mousa Al-Tamari finished Ehsan Haddad’s cross in the 55th minute, handing Argentina its first goal conceded at the tournament. Scaloni introduced Messi in the 60th minute, and the 39-year-old quickly changed the tempo before sealing the victory with a trademark free kick.
“I’m running out of superlatives for Messi“, Scaloni said after the match. “He keeps breaking records, but what matters most is the team“.
The victory also marked an emotional return for Lo Celso, who missed Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph because of injury. His early strike helped maintain the team’s unbeaten run while allowing several first-choice players to rest ahead of the knockout stage.
Messi’s latest milestone stretches across two tournaments, beginning during Argentina’s run to the 2022 title and continuing through all three group matches in 2026. The achievement moves him clear of previous record holders Just Fontaine and Jairzinho for consecutive World Cup scoring appearances.
Argentina now heads to Miami Gardens to face Cape Verde, one of the biggest surprise teams of the expanded 48-team tournament. Jordan leaves the competition without a point but with the distinction of becoming the first side to score against Argentina during this year’s World Cup.
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