Jordan 1-3 Argentina: Messi scores again to make more World Cup history
Argentina secured the top spot in Group J with a victory over Jordan, featuring a historic scoring streak from Lionel Messi and Lautaro Martinez's first World Cup goal.
Argentina concluded its Group J campaign on Saturday, 27 June 2026, with a 3-1 victory over Jordan at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The win secured a perfect 3-0-0 record for the reigning champions, who finished at the top of the group with nine points. Despite the match functioning as a dead rubber due to Argentina's guaranteed progression, the encounter provided a venue for squad rotation and cemented further historical milestones for Lionel Messi.
A Match of Tactical Rotation and Milestones
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni utilized the match to rest key personnel, making nine changes to the starting lineup. Only goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and forward Lautaro Martinez retained their spots from the previous fixture. With the squad depth on display, Giovani Lo Celso took the opportunity to make his first World Cup start, marking his debut with a 19th-minute goal scored via a bending left-footed free kick.
Media additions
The Argentine lead expanded in the 31st minute when Lautaro Martinez converted a penalty following a video assistant referee (VAR) review. The foul occurred after Nizar Al Rashdan caught Marcos Senesi with a high boot inside the penalty area. This goal marked Lautaro Martinez's first career World Cup goal in his ninth appearance. Jordan, appearing in its inaugural World Cup, managed to find the net in the 55th minute through Mousa Al Tamari, who capitalized on an assist from Ehsan Haddad. This goal ensured that Jordan finished their debut tournament having scored in each of their three group stage matches.
The Messi Effect
Lionel Messi began the match on the bench. He entered the fray as a substitute in the 60th minute. In the 80th minute, Messi delivered his sixth goal of the 2026 tournament, curling a low free kick around the Jordan defensive wall. This goal extended his all-time World Cup scoring record to 19 total goals and established him as the first player in the competition's history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. Reflecting on the decision to bring on the captain, Scaloni noted that the move was collaborative, stating,
"He wanted his teammates to have time on the pitch and to save himself also for what’s coming up now. He doesn’t think so much about the numbers that people are talking about."
Performance Observations and Statistical Context
According to data tracked through the group phase, Argentina completed fewer high-intensity runs and sprints than other participants in the tournament. Additionally, Leandro Paredes set a high mark for distribution, completing 154 passes during the contest, a record for an Argentine player in a single World Cup match since 1966. For Jordan, goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila faced pressure throughout the evening as Argentina recorded an expected goals (xG) total of 2.13 compared to Jordan's 0.74.
Looking Ahead to the Knockout Stage
Having topped Group J, Argentina is now scheduled to face Cape Verde in the round of 32. As the defending champions prepare for their upcoming test in Miami, the performance against Jordan showcased both the clinical production of their captain and the depth of a squad aiming to maintain its title defense.
- Next Opponent: Cape Verde
- Tournament Record: Argentina (3-0-0)
