Argentina closed Group J with a 3-1 win over Jordan at Dallas Stadium, as Lionel Messi came from the bench to extend several World Cup scoring records. The result maintained Argentina’s perfect group campaign and kept Messi in front in the Golden Boot race, with the captain again deciding a match despite limited minutes.

Messi’s free-kick late in the second half restored Argentina’s two-goal cushion after Jordan had pulled one back. That goal moved Messi to six strikes at this World Cup and confirmed a historic scoring streak, while also underlining Argentina’s attacking depth before the knockout meeting with Cape Verde at Miami Stadium.

By scoring against Jordan, Messi became the first player to find the net in seven straight World Cup appearances, collecting 11 goals across that stretch. Five of those came during the final four matches in 2022, and three have arrived in 2026. The 39-year-old now leads the Golden Boot standings by two goals over Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Vinicius Junior and Erling Haaland.

Messi’s strike was also his record-extending 19th World Cup goal, adding further distance from previous marks. The free-kick curled around the wall and into the far corner after Messi had earned the foul on the edge of the area. His impact came despite starting on the bench, as Lionel Scaloni again managed minutes with the knockout rounds in mind.

Scaloni rotated heavily, with top spot already confirmed before kick-off against Jordan. There were nine changes from the 2-0 win over Austria, as Exequiel Palacios, Nicolas Tagliafico, Nico Paz, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Senesi and Giovani Lo Celso all came into the XI. That group offered Argentina’s regular starters a rest while still maintaining control of the match.

Lo Celso marked a first World Cup start with a 19th-minute goal, bending a direct free-kick beyond the Jordan goalkeeper. Lautaro Martinez then doubled the advantage from the penalty spot before half-time. Jordan answered after the break, when Mousa Al Tamari slid Ehsan Haddad’s cross past Emiliano Martinez, just as Messi was preparing to enter the pitch.

Lionel Messi and World Cup reaction from Lionel Scaloni

Scaloni struggled to explain Messi’s sustained level after the Jordan match, admitting repeated questions leave little new to add. “It’s a little bit of an uncomfortable situation when people ask me that, and I don’t know what to say,” Scaloni said when quizzed once again about Messi’s performance. “Today he could’ve played 90 minutes and, without undermining our opponent, he wanted his team-mates to have time on the pitch and to save himself for what’scoming up. He doesn’t think so much about the numbers that people are talking about. The only word that comes to mind is that I’m surprised.”