Messi Sets Seven-Match Record as Argentina Top Group J 3-1

Messi Rewrites History on Argentina’s Perfect Group Exit

Argentina went into this Group J finale already confirmed as group winners, and Lionel Scaloni responded by making nine changes to his starting side, keeping only the two Martinezes, with Messi held in reserve.

The rotation did little to blunt the holders. Lo Celso was fouled on the edge of the area by Abutaha and got up to curl the resulting free-kick into the net in the 19th minute, becoming the first Argentina player other than Messi to score at this tournament. Martinez then saw a shot cannon off the crossbar, a foul on Senesi in the scramble was confirmed by VAR, and Martinez converted the penalty on 31 minutes to double the lead.

Jordan, making their World Cup debut, were not passive in the second half. Half-time substitute Al-Tamari swept home a low cross from Ehsan Haddad on 55 minutes to make it 2-1 and briefly inject uncertainty into the contest. Sellami’s changes at the interval had opened the match up, and Jordan carried a threat going forward for a spell.

But Messi, introduced before the hour, settled the match. Fouled on the edge of the area, he stepped up himself and slotted a low free-kick through the Jordan wall on 80 minutes for his 19th career World Cup goal. The strike extended his own all-time scoring record and made him the first man to find the net in seven consecutive World Cup matches.

Three Set-Pieces Decide the Contest

Lo Celso opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a curled free-kick after Abutaha’s foul, the first goal of this World Cup by an Argentine other than Messi. A VAR-reviewed penalty converted by Lautaro Martinez on 31 minutes made it 2-0 at half-time.

Al-Tamari’s 55th-minute finish, set up by Haddad’s cross, gave Jordan a moment to celebrate on their World Cup debut. Messi ended the contest on 80 minutes with a low free-kick, his sixth goal in three games at this tournament.

Messi Adds Another Record to a Record-Breaking Tournament

Lionel Messi arrived off the bench with the match already in hand, but the 39-year-old wasted no time making his mark. His 80th-minute free-kick, low, precise, through the wall, brought his tally to six goals in three group games and lifted his all-time World Cup total to 19, extending the record he set earlier in the tournament.

With the goal, Messi became the first player in the history of the competition to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. He also leads the Golden Boot standings by two goals heading into the knockout rounds.

Perfect Group Record, One Eye on Cape Verde

Argentina head into the Round of 32 with a flawless group record, nine points, nine goals scored, none conceded before this match, and Scaloni will be able to freshen the squad after a deliberately rotated final group game.

The workload management is deliberate: knockout fixtures compress quickly, and keeping Messi sharp through to the later rounds is a clear priority. Jordan depart having scored in all three of their debut World Cup games, a creditable exit for a side competing at this level for the first time.

Argentina face Cape Verde, runners-up of Group H, in the Round of 32 on July 3 in Miami. Three yellow cards were accumulated by Jordan across the match but no Argentine disciplinary concerns carry over to the knockouts.