Lionel Messi continued to rewrite football history by becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup matches, finding the net as Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1 in their final Group J fixture.
The Argentine captain began the match on the bench after his side had already secured top spot in the group, but that did little to dampen the anticipation of the crowd. Introduced in the second half, Messi made an immediate impact, extending his remarkable scoring streak and adding another chapter to his extraordinary World Cup career.
Just three days after celebrating his 39th birthday, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner scored Argentina’s third goal in the 80th minute with a trademark free kick. After being fouled just outside the penalty area, Messi calmly curled a low effort that slipped through a gap in the Jordan defensive wall before nestling into the bottom-left corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
The strike was Messi’s 19th World Cup goal, extending his record as the highest-scoring player in the history of the men’s tournament. It also marked the seventh successive World Cup match in which he has found the back of the net, breaking new ground after previously sharing the record of six consecutive scoring games with French great Just Fontaine and Brazilian legend Jairzinho.
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The goal also carried significance beyond the World Cup. It was Messi’s 72nd career free-kick goal and his 12th from a direct free kick for Argentina. With the strike, his international tally rose to 123 goals in 202 appearances, placing him second on the all-time list behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads with 145 international goals.
Messi also joined an elite group of players to have scored multiple direct free kicks at FIFA World Cups. Having previously scored from a free kick against Nigeria at the 2014 tournament, he now stands alongside legends Pelé, Rivellino, Téofilo Cubillas, Bernard Genghini and David Beckham as players with two World Cup free-kick goals since official records began in 1966.
Argentina had little at stake entering the contest, having already guaranteed first place in Group J, while Jordan had been eliminated from knockout contention. Nevertheless, more than 70,000 spectators packed the home stadium of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, with the overwhelming majority eager to watch Messi in action.
The crowd began chanting his name shortly after the second half commenced, and the noise grew even louder when he emerged from the bench to warm up. When coach Lionel Scaloni finally introduced him in the 60th minute, replacing Lautaro Martínez, the stadium erupted in celebration.
Martínez had earlier opened Argentina’s scoring from the penalty spot before Giovani Lo Celso doubled the advantage in the 19th minute with a superb free kick of his own.
Lo Celso, who became the first Argentine player other than Messi to score in this World Cup, praised his captain after the match.
“I am very happy for him and for the moment he is having,” Lo Celso said. “Seeing him every day excites all of us. The way he plays inspires the entire team, and having him in this kind of form is incredibly important.”
Despite winning virtually every major honour in football, Messi has never finished as the World Cup’s Golden Boot winner. This year, however, he has emerged as the leading contender, with six goals to his name. He currently leads the scoring charts by two goals over Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Erling Haaland.
Messi entered the tournament after managing a minor hamstring issue suffered while playing for Inter Miami, but his performances have shown little sign of discomfort. With the group stage complete, Argentina will now turn their attention to the knockout rounds, beginning on Friday in South Florida. If the defending champions reach the final on July 19, they will play five matches in just 17 days in the expanded 48-team tournament, with Messi once again expected to lead the charge.
