Messi Scores Again as Argentina Beats Jordan 3-1 to Top World Cup Group

Argentina secured a perfect group stage record at the World Cup by defeating Jordan 3-1 in Dallas, finishing first in Group J. Despite starting on the bench, Lionel Messi made a significant impact after entering the match in the 60th minute, scoring a free kick to complete his sixth goal of the tournament. This goal made Messi the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cups, raising his total to 19 World Cup goals.

Coach Lionel Scaloni made nine changes to the starting lineup, yet Argentina dominated early. Giovanni Lo Celso opened the scoring with a free kick in the 19th minute, and Lautaro Martínez converted a penalty in the 31st minute to give Argentina a 2-0 lead at halftime. Jordan, making their World Cup debut, improved in the second half with Mousa Al-Tamari scoring in the 55th minute, but Messi’s entry and goal sealed the win.

Argentina will face Cape Verde in the round of 32, while Jordan ended their first World Cup appearance with three losses but managed to score in each game. Argentina remains one of the tournament favorites, alongside Mexico and France, as the only teams with perfect group records. The knockout stages will run from June 28 to July 19, culminating in the final on July 19.

The match took place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, refereed by Istvan Kovacs from Romania. Jordan played a 3-5-2 formation under coach Jamal Salameh, while Argentina used a 4-4-2 setup under Scaloni. The victory highlights Messi’s continued dominance and Argentina’s strong title defense prospects.