Lionel Messi came off the bench in the 60th minute to score a stunning free-kick, leading Argentina to a 3-1 victory over Jordan in their final Group J match at the World Cup in Dallas. The goal marked Messi's 19th in World Cup tournaments, extending his record as the all-time leading scorer, and made him the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup appearances.
Messi's Impact Off the Bench
Argentina had already secured top spot in Group J, so manager Lionel Scaloni decided to rest Messi until the second half. The crowd of over 60,000 at the AT&T Stadium had been subdued until the superstar entered the pitch. Within minutes, Messi was fouled 22 yards from goal, and he curled the free-kick over the wall and into the net past goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila, who was caught flat-footed.
"He could have played 90 minutes but, without undermining our opponent, he wanted his teammates to have time on the pitch and save himself for what's coming up," Scaloni said. "He doesn't think so much about the numbers people are talking about so I'm happy he decided that."
Record-Breaking Feat
Messi's six goals in three group games put him two clear of Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Vinícius Júnior, and Erling Haaland in the golden boot race. His 19th World Cup goal extended the record he set earlier in the tournament. Additionally, the goal was his first in his 40th year on Earth, and it marked his seventh consecutive World Cup appearance with a goal, a feat never before achieved.
"I just said: 'Get warmed up, you're going on,'" Scaloni said with a laugh. "What am I going to tell him?" Yet again, Messi had the script ready.
Argentina's Dominance
Argentina took the lead in the seventh minute when Giovani Lo Celso scored a free-kick after a foul on Leandro Paredes. Abulaila was again poorly positioned, allowing the ball to sail into the net. Lautaro Martínez doubled the lead with a penalty just after the half-hour mark, after Marcos Senesi was kicked in the face by Nizar al-Rashdan during a corner.
Jordan pulled one back in the 55th minute through a well-worked goal. Captain Ehsan Haddad beat Nico Paz with deft footwork and delivered a first-time cross for Musa al-Taamari to convert on the stretch. It was the third consecutive match in which Jordan scored against a top-tier opponent.
Jordan's Pride and Costly Errors
Jordan head coach Jamal Sellami expressed pride in his team's ability to score against high-level opponents but lamented small errors. "But as we were competing with high-level teams small errors were very costly," he said. He noted that the early foul leading to Lo Celso's goal was harshly penalized.
Looking Ahead
Argentina will face Cape Verde in the round of 32, with Messi expected to start. Scaloni made nine changes for the Jordan match, resting key players. The draw has opened up for Argentina, with Colombia or Switzerland likely the only major challenges before the semi-finals. "I guarantee, believe me, that it's going to be a team that makes things difficult for us," Scaloni said of Cape Verde, but Argentina are strong favorites to defend their title.
