Argentina Beat Jordan 3-1 as Messi Sets World Cup Record

Argentina completed a perfect Group J campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 3-1 victory over Jordan at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday, June 27, as substitute Lionel Messi scored a late free kick to become the first player in tournament history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.

How the Match Unfolded

Lionel Scaloni made nine changes from the 2-0 win over Austria, having already secured top spot in Group J before kickoff. Only goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez and striker Lautaro Martínez held their places, according to Reuters.

Argentina lined up in a 4-4-2: Emiliano Martínez in goal, a back four of Exequiel Palacios, Nicolás Otamendi, Marcos Senesi, and Nicolás Tagliafico, a midfield of Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, Leandro Paredes, and Giovani Lo Celso, with Julián Álvarez partnering Lautaro Martínez in attack. Jordan coach Jamal Sellami deployed a 3-4-2-1, with Yazeed Abulaila in goal and Odeh Fakhoury leading the attack.

Giovani Lo Celso opened the scoring in the 19th minute from a direct free kick, a composed delivery that gave Abulaila no chance. It was Lo Celso's first World Cup goal, an opportunity that did not exist four years earlier when he missed the 2022 tournament through injury.

Lautaro Martínez converted a penalty in the 31st minute to double the lead, his first goal in World Cup football. FIFA's pre-tournament profile had listed him with zero World Cup goals in six previous appearances. He was replaced by Messi at the hour mark.

Jordan, eliminated before kickoff after losing to both Austria and Algeria, produced a more competitive second half after Sellami introduced Mousa Al-Tamari at halftime. Al-Tamari reduced the deficit to 2-1 in the 55th minute, finishing from the centre of the area following a delivery by Ehsan Haddad. It was Jordan's third goal in three World Cup matches, the nation scored in every game of its debut campaign.

Argentina steadied after the 60th-minute triple substitution, Messi, Thiago Almada, and Alexis Mac Allister all entering around the same time. Valentín Barco replaced Giuliano Simeone in the 71st minute, providing pace from the left channel in the closing stages. Messi sealed the result in the 80th minute with a direct free kick, as recorded in the official FIFA match centre.

The referee was István Kovács of Romania. Attendance at Dallas Stadium was 70,649.

Messi's Record

Messi's free kick was his sixth goal of the 2026 tournament and his 19th in World Cup football across his career. The 80th-minute strike extended his scoring run to seven consecutive World Cup matches, stretching from Argentina's 2022 round-of-16 tie against Australia, through the Netherlands, Croatia, and France, and into 2026 against Algeria, Austria, and Jordan.

Reuters confirmed that Just Fontaine and Jairzinho had previously shared the record at six consecutive scoring appearances. Messi, who turned 39 on June 24, surpassed both of them with the goal against Jordan. It was his sixth World Cup overall, the 2026 edition follows appearances in 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022, a run that makes him the first male player to compete at six editions of the tournament.

Scaloni had confirmed on June 26 that Messi would begin on the bench, a decision made possible by Argentina sealing Group J first place with the victory over Austria five days earlier.

After the Jordan match, Messi led the 2026 Golden Boot race by two goals, with Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembélé, Erling Haaland, and Vinícius Júnior each on four. Those standings will shift as the knockout rounds continue.

Lineups and Group J Final Standings

Jordan (3-4-2-1): GK: Abulaila. Defenders: Nasib, Al-Arab, Abu Dahab. Midfield: Haddad, Al-Rashdan, Al-Rawabdeh, Abu Taha. Attacking mid: Azaizeh, Olwan. Forward: Fakhoury.

Substitutes used: Al-Mardi and Al-Tamari (halftime, for Fakhoury and Azaizeh). Jamous (76', for Al-Rashdan). Abu Zraiq and Obaid (late substitutions).

Argentina (4-4-2): GK: E. Martínez. Defenders: Palacios, Otamendi, Senesi, Tagliafico. Midfield: Simeone, Paz, Paredes, Lo Celso. Forwards: Álvarez, L. Martínez.

Substitutes used: Almada (60', for Lo Celso). Messi (60', for L. Martínez). Mac Allister (c.61', for Paz). Barco (71', for Simeone). J.M. López (82', for Álvarez).

Booked: Mohannad Abu Taha, Yazan Al-Arab, Mohammad Abu Zraiq (Jordan).

The official Group J final table:

Austria and Algeria's final figures were confirmed by their simultaneous 3-3 draw at Kansas City Stadium, as recorded in the official FIFA Algeria-Austria match report. Both teams advance to the Round of 32.

Jordan's Debut Campaign

Jordan scored in every match of its first men's World Cup, against Austria, Algeria, and Argentina, finishing as one of the few debutant nations to register in all three group games at a single tournament. The record-season total was three goals scored and eight conceded, across three defeats.

Sellami told Reuters before the match that his side held Argentina in genuine respect whether Messi started or not. His halftime changes gave Jordan a more direct outlet in the second half, and Al-Tamari took the chance when it came. The team leaves the United States without a point but also without being shut out.

What Comes Next for Argentina

Argentina's Round of 32 opponent is Cabo Verde. The match is confirmed for Friday, July 3, 2026, at Miami Stadium, as detailed on the FIFA Argentina vs Cape Verde event page. For context on where that fixture sits within the broader knockout results, see the latest 2026 World Cup results and standings from the group stage.

Argentina's last World Cup defeat came 1,313 days before this match, the 2-1 loss to Saudi Arabia on November 22, 2022. Scaloni's squad finished the group stage with nine points from three games, eight goals scored, and one conceded.