Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup matches as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 in their final Group J game in Dallas on Saturday.
Despite making nine changes to the team that defeated Austria, Argentina continued their impressive form. Goals from Giovani Lo Celso, Lautaro Martinez and Messi secured another victory and set up a Round of 32 clash with Cape Verde.
Jordan, who had already been eliminated, fell behind in the 19th minute when Lo Celso curled a superb free-kick into the corner from 20 metres.
Argentina doubled their lead 12 minutes later. Lautaro Martinez converted a penalty after Leandro Paredes was kicked in the head while trying to reach a rebound, with the spot-kick awarded following a VAR review.
Martinez calmly sent goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila the wrong way to make it 2-0.
Jordan pulled a goal back 10 minutes into the second half through substitute Mousa Altamari. Captain Ehsan Haddad found space on the right before delivering a low cross that Altamari finished from close range.
The goal ended goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez’s perfect record at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as Jordan became the first team to score against Argentina in the tournament.
Messi came on just after the hour mark to a huge ovation from the crowd and soon made his mark.
The Argentina captain was fouled around 25 metres from goal in the 80th minute. He stepped up and curled a low free-kick around the wall and into the net after Abulaila misjudged the flight of the ball.
The goal made history, with Messi becoming the first player ever to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup matches. In doing so, he moved past France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho, who had each scored in six straight World Cup games.
Lo Celso was one of Argentina’s standout performers throughout the first half, while Martinez also struck the crossbar before converting from the penalty spot and later hit the woodwork again early in the second half.
