Argentina completed a flawless Group J campaign with an impressive 3-1 victory over Jordan in Dallas, as captain Lionel Messi came off the bench to score a stunning free-kick and set another World Cup record.
Already assured of a place in the knockout stage as group winners, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni opted to rotate his squad, leaving Messi among the substitutes.
Despite playing only the final 30 minutes, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner once again proved decisive, inspiring the defending champions to another convincing victory.
Argentina dominated much of the opening half and were rewarded when Giovani Lo Celso broke the deadlock with a superbly struck free-kick that sailed into the top corner beyond the reach of the Jordanian goalkeeper.
The South Americans doubled their advantage before the break after a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review awarded a penalty.
The referee ruled that defender Marcos Senesi had been kicked in the head while attempting to connect with a cross inside the penalty area.
Lautaro MartÃnez stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to give Argentina a comfortable 2-0 lead.
Jordan, however, refused to surrender and found a route back into the contest shortly after the restart.
A slick passing move involving Ehsan Haddad carved open the Argentine defence before Mousa Al Tamari applied a composed finish to reduce the deficit to 2-1 and briefly raise hopes of a comeback.
With the momentum beginning to shift, Scaloni introduced Messi in the 60th minute, a move that immediately transformed the atmosphere inside the packed Dallas Stadium.
Thousands of supporters rose to their feet to welcome the Argentine captain, whose every touch of the ball was greeted with loud cheers.
Messi eventually produced the moment the crowd had been waiting for in the 80th minute.
Awarded a free-kick just outside the penalty area, the 39-year-old curled a precise low effort around the defensive wall and into the bottom corner, restoring Argentina’s two-goal cushion and putting the result beyond doubt.
The goal was Messi’s sixth of the tournament, strengthening his lead in the race for the Golden Boot by moving two goals clear of his nearest challengers.
It also took his overall World Cup tally to a record 19 goals and made him the first player in the competition’s history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
The victory ensured Argentina finished the group stage with maximum points, underlining their status as one of the strongest contenders for the World Cup title.
With confidence high and Messi continuing to rewrite football history, the South Americans will head into the knockout rounds carrying significant momentum.
