Messi scores as Argentina secure perfect group stage
28.06.2026
Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1 in their final World Cup group stage match, with Lionel Messi scoring a goal after coming off the bench. The victory ensured Argentina, the reigning champions, finished first in Group J, having already secured their spot in the knockout rounds. The match was held in Arlington on Saturday.
Messi entered the game in the 60th minute, replacing Lautaro Martínez. His goal came from a free kick, marking his 72nd career goal from a free kick and his 12th for Argentina. This strike also extended his record as the men’s all-time leader in World Cup goals, bringing his tally to 19.
The Argentine captain, who is 39 years old, also set a new tournament record by scoring in his seventh consecutive World Cup match. This achievement surpassed the previous marks held by France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho.
Before Messi’s entry, Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez had scored in the first half against Jordan, a team that had already been eliminated from knockout contention. Lo Celso’s goal, also from a free kick, came in the 19th minute, making him the first Argentine player other than Messi to score in the tournament.
Messi’s impact and records
The crowd at the stadium in Arlington began chanting Messi’s name early in the second half, with a loud cheer greeting him as he warmed up. The roar intensified when he stepped onto the pitch on Saturday night, just three days after his 39th birthday.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had confirmed prior to the match that Messi would start on the bench and play later in the game. Scaloni stated that he and Messi mutually agreed that coming on in the second half was the best approach for the match, highlighting Messi’s understanding of the game.
Messi’s goal against Jordan was his 123rd international goal in 202 appearances, placing him second all-time behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s 145 international goals. Earlier in the tournament, Messi had already broken the 16-goal World Cup record he previously shared with Germany’s Miroslav Klose, achieving this with a brace against Austria.
Now playing in his sixth World Cup, Messi stands alone as the leading goal scorer in the tournament’s history, well ahead of Klose, whose final World Cup goal was scored against Messi’s Argentina in the 2014 final. Kylian Mbappé also reached 16 World Cup goals with a brace in France’s 3-0 victory over Iraq, shortly after Messi initially set the record. Mbappé, who has four goals in this tournament, did not score in France’s subsequent 4-1 win over Norway in their final group match.
Looking ahead for Argentina
Manager Scaloni expressed his consistent admiration for Messi’s performances, noting that it becomes difficult to find new words to describe his impact. Argentina’s strong group stage performance, culminating in this victory, sets them up for the next phase of the tournament.
As the winners of Group J, Argentina will now advance to the round of 32. Their next opponent will be Cape Verde, a team making its first appearance in the World Cup.
The FIFA World Cup commenced on June 10 and is scheduled to conclude with the final on July 20.
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.