Messi Scores Again as Argentina Complete Perfect Group Stage, Jordan Exit World Cup Winless

Defending champions Argentina completed a flawless Group J campaign with a 3-1 victory over Jordan on Saturday, as Lionel Messi came off the bench to score again and extend his remarkable World Cup scoring streak.

Already assured of top spot before kickoff, Argentina made nine changes to the starting lineup but still proved too strong for Jordan, whose first-ever World Cup appearance ended without a point. The South Americans finished the group stage with three wins from three matches and advanced to the Round of 32 with the maximum nine points.

Giovani Lo Celso gave Argentina the lead in the 19th minute with a well-struck direct free kick after being fouled just outside the penalty area. The goal came only moments after another effort from Lo Celso had been ruled out for offside.

Argentina doubled their advantage in the 31st minute when Lautaro Martinez converted a penalty after a VAR review showed Julian Alvarez had been kicked in the face during a goalmouth scramble. Martinez’s initial effort had struck the crossbar before the referee awarded the spot kick following the video review.

Jordan responded early in the second half through Mousa Al Tamari, who entered as a halftime substitute and scored in the 55th minute to reduce the deficit and briefly raise hopes of a comeback.

Messi entered the match in the 60th minute, three days after celebrating his 39th birthday, and once again left his mark on the tournament. The Argentina captain found the net in the 80th minute, taking his tally to six goals in the competition and extending his World Cup record to 19 career goals.

The strike also marked Messi’s seventh consecutive World Cup match with a goal, setting a new tournament record after surpassing the previous mark shared by France’s Just Fontaine and Brazilian legend Jairzinho.

Argentina have now won all three group-stage matches at a World Cup for the fifth time and the first time since achieving the feat in consecutive tournaments in 2010 and 2014. The team has recorded seven wins and two draws in its last nine World Cup matches.

Argentina will now face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 on Friday in Miami, where Messi also plays club football.

Jordan, ranked 72nd in the world, concluded its historic debut at the World Cup with three defeats and a goal difference of 8-3. Despite the disappointing outcome, the campaign marked a significant milestone for Jordanian football with its first appearance on the sport’s biggest stage.

Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez both scored their first World Cup goals, while several younger Argentine players were handed valuable opportunities as coach Lionel Scaloni rotated his squad ahead of the knockout rounds.