Lionel Messi came off the bench to extend his record-breaking World Cup scoring streak, leading Argentina to a 3-1 victory over Jordan in Arlington, Texas, as the defending champions completed a perfect group stage while giving opportunities to players who had seen limited action in the tournament.
Messi did not start because Argentina had already clinched first place in Group J, and he was one of nine Argentina starters changed from the previous game. He entered in the 60th minute, three days after his 39th birthday, and scored in the 80th minute before a pro-Argentina crowd of 70,649 at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, where fans chanted his name as soon as the second half started and cheered when he entered.
Record-Breaking Performance
Messi extended the all-time men's World Cup scoring record to 19 goals and became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup games. He had been one of only three players to score in six consecutive World Cup games, along with France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho. Messi's goal was his 72nd career goal on a free kick, including his 12th for Argentina. He now has 123 international goals in 202 appearances, second all-time to Cristiano Ronaldo's 145. He was the leader in the tournament with six goals and was two clear of Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Júnior and Erling Haaland.
Messi had scored on a free kick against Nigeria in the 2014 World Cup and is among six players since records are available dating to 1966 who scored two free kick goals in the World Cup, joining Pelé, Rivellino, Téofilo Cubillas, Bernard Genghini and David Beckham.
Opportunity for Squad Depth
Argentina's coach Lionel Scaloni said through an interpreter, "I was able to include all the footballers for them to play. This was a goal that we have always set for ourselves," and, "I think they played quite well in a difficult match. They showed today that we can count on them." Giovani Lo Celso scored in the 19th minute, Lautaro Martinez converted a penalty in the 31st minute and Messi added a goal after coming off the bench in the second half.
Lo Celso became the first Argentina player other than Messi to score in this World Cup. He scored on a direct free kick in the 19th minute after being tripped up just outside the penalty box by Mohannad Abutaha, who drew a yellow card. That was the first direct free kick for an Argentina goal in a World Cup since Messi against Nigeria in 2014. Lo Celso said in translated remarks, "I am very happy for him, for the moment he is having," and, "The truth is that seeing him every day excites, excites and infects a lot. So obviously seeing him like that for us is very important." Lo Celso also said, "I waited a lot for this moment, I dreamed it a lot and I think that what I saw today was much more than what I had imagined or dreamed."
Nicolás Paz, who made his World Cup debut subbing in for Messi late in the 3-0 win over Algeria in the opener, made his first start in Messi's spot. Paz and Lo Celso were joined by forwards Marcos Senesi and Giuliano Simeone making first World Cup starts. Martinez and goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez were the only players to start all three of Argentina's group matches.
Jordan's World Cup Experience
Jordan, the world's 72nd-ranked team, was outscored 8-3 in losing all games in its first appearance in the international tournament. Mousa Altamari, who entered at the start of the second half, scored in the 55th minute for Jordan. Coach Jamal Sellami said through an interpreter, "As a first participant in the World Cup, I believe that the most important thing that we can come out of in terms of lessons is for the players to have experienced firsthand what they were trained on. Now they are more aware of the requirements of such competition."
Lautaro Martinez's penalty came after his close-range shot ricocheted off the crossbar and Julian Alvarez followed with a header that was deflected by keeper Yazeed Abulaila over the net, with a VAR replay showing Alvarez took a kick to the face on the play.
Scaloni also said through a translator, "What you're seeing, I'm seeing the same thing. It's a little bit of an uncomfortable situation every single time people ask because I no longer know what to say." He said, "Today he could have played 90 minutes. He wanted his teammates to have time on the pitch and to save himself also for what's coming up now. He doesn't think so much about the numbers that people are talking about."
Argentina, which has seven wins and two draws in its last nine World Cup games, plays in the round of 32 on Friday against Cape Verde in Miami, the home of Messi's Major League Soccer team. This was the fifth time Argentina has won all of its matches in group stage, and the first since back-to-back tournaments in 2010 and 2014. Argentina has 14 wins, two losses and three draws in its last 19 group games. France and Mexico were the only other squads in the expanded 48-team World Cup to get the maximum nine points in the group stage.
Why This Matters:
Argentina's decision to rest Messi and rotate nine starters demonstrates how the expanded World Cup format allows established teams to develop squad depth while managing veteran players' workloads. For Jordan, competing against the world's elite in their first World Cup appearance provides invaluable experience that can strengthen their football program and inspire future generations of players in a nation ranked 72nd globally. The match highlighted both the opportunities the expanded tournament creates for emerging football nations and the challenges smaller federations face in competing against teams with far greater resources and infrastructure. As Argentina advances with a perfect record, their ability to give playing time to reserves while maintaining dominance underscores the competitive imbalances that persist in international football, even as the tournament grows more inclusive.