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Argentina completed a flawless FIFA World Cup group-stage campaign with a convincing 3-1 victory over Jordan in Dallas, as Lionel Messi came off the bench to score a record-breaking goal and strengthen his lead in the Golden Boot race.
Already guaranteed top spot in Group J before kickoff, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni rotated his squad, leaving Messi on the bench. Despite starting as a substitute, the Argentine captain once again proved decisive after entering the match in the 60th minute.
Messi sealed the victory in the 80th minute with a trademark low free-kick that curled around the defensive wall and into the bottom corner, restoring Argentina’s two-goal cushion after Jordan had briefly threatened a comeback.
The strike was Messi’s sixth goal of the tournament, moving him two goals clear at the top of the Golden Boot standings. It also took his overall World Cup tally to a record 19 goals and made him the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
Argentina opened the scoring in the first half through Giovani Lo Celso, who brilliantly curled a free-kick into the top corner. Lautaro Martínez doubled the advantage from the penalty spot after a VAR review confirmed Marcos Senesi had been kicked in the head while challenging for a cross.
Jordan responded early in the second half when Mousa Al Tamari finished off an impressive team move, guided by Ehsan Haddad’s creative build-up, to reduce the deficit to 2-1 and briefly raise hopes of a comeback.
The atmosphere inside Dallas Stadium reached another level when Messi was introduced, with fans erupting every time he touched the ball. Their excitement was rewarded as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner produced another memorable moment, bending home a superb free-kick to cap Argentina’s dominant performance.
The victory ensured Argentina finished the group stage with a perfect record, reinforcing their status as one of the leading contenders for World Cup glory as they head into the knockout rounds.
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