Lionel Messi became the first player in World Cup history to score in seven consecutive matches as Argentina cruised to a 3-1 win over World Cup debutants Jordan in their final Group J fixture.
Coming off the bench with half an hour remaining, Messi added his name to the scoresheet alongside goals from Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez, sealing victory for La Albiceleste against a Jordan side that had scored in every group game.
Lo Celso opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a curling free-kick from 20 metres after being fouled on the edge of the box. Argentina doubled their lead 12 minutes later when Martinez converted a penalty, awarded after VAR confirmed Leandro Paredes had been struck in the head during a challenge.
Martinez later struck the crossbar and the woodwork in search of a third, but Jordan responded 10 minutes into the second half. Captain Ehsan Haddad’s low cross from the right was converted by substitute Mousa Altamari, who became the first player to beat goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez at the 2026 World Cup.
Messi entered to a huge ovation on the hour mark and made an immediate impact. After being fouled 25 metres from goal, he curled a low free-kick around the wall and beyond goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila in the 80th minute, extending his scoring streak to seven straight World Cup matches and surpassing the previous records held by Just Fontaine and Jairzinho.
