Messi’s late free-kick caps Argentina’s perfect group as they see off Jordan

Argentina did not need Lionel Messi from the start against Jordan, and for an hour they barely missed him. By the time he did appear, the holders were already in control, and Messi turned a comfortable night into another record-breaking one. His late free-kick rounded off a 3-1 win in Dallas that left Argentina with a perfect Group J campaign and a round of 32 date with Cape Verde.

Lo Celso and Lautaro do the early work

With Messi rested on the bench, Giovani Lo Celso took on the creative load and put Argentina ahead in the 19th minute with a free-kick that curled beyond the Jordan wall. Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead from the penalty spot before the break, and at 2-0 the result rarely looked in doubt against a side making its World Cup debut.

Jordan refused to fold quietly. Substitute Mousa Al-Taamari tapped in early in the second half to halve the deficit and briefly hint at a nervier finish than the favourites would have wanted. The response from Lionel Scaloni was to send on his captain.

Messi adds another line to the record book

Messi came on just after the hour and settled it with ten minutes left, bending a low free-kick home in the style that has defined his career. It was his sixth goal in three matches at this World Cup and his 19th in the tournament’s history, stretching the all-time scoring record he had already taken from Miroslav Klose earlier in the group stage.

The goal also made the 39-year-old the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches, a run that now spans two tournaments. For a player who arrived in this competition with nothing left to prove, Messi keeps finding new marks to set, and Jordan became the latest opponent on the wrong end of one.

Perfect record, and Cape Verde next

Three wins from three, nine points and eight goals scored made for a flawless group-stage campaign, with Argentina carrying their title defence into the knockouts unbeaten and largely untroubled. Austria and Algeria followed them out of Group J after their own 3-3 draw, while Jordan went home still searching for a first World Cup point on debut.

Cape Verde, who reached the knockouts on their own tournament debut, stand between Argentina and the last 16. On this evidence Scaloni has the luxury of managing Messi’s minutes carefully, leaning on the depth around him in the group and saving his captain for the moments that matter. The knockouts will test whether that balance holds.

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