Messi magic seals Argentina’s perfect World Cup run with 3-1 win over Jordan

Lionel Messi scored from a free kick after coming on as a second-half substitute as Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1 in their final Group J match at the World Cup in Arlington, Texas.

Argentina finished the group stage with a perfect record of three wins from three games, joining France and co-host Mexico as the only teams to collect maximum points in their groups.

Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez scored in the first half to give Argentina a 2-0 lead before Jordan’s Mousa Al-Tamari pulled one back in the second half. Messi then sealed the victory in the 80th minute with a free kick that found its way through the Jordan wall.

The goal marked Messi’s seventh consecutive World Cup match with a goal and extended his record tally to 19 World Cup goals.

Argentina, who scored eight goals and conceded just one in the group stage, will now face Cape Verde in the round of 32 in Miami Gardens. Jordan, meanwhile, were eliminated after finishing their first-ever World Cup campaign without a point.

Lo Celso opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a curling left-footed free kick from outside the box. Lautaro Martinez doubled the advantage in the 31st minute after Julian Alvarez was fouled inside the area, allowing him to convert from the penalty spot.

Jordan reduced the deficit in the 55th minute when Al-Tamari finished from Ehsan Haddad’s cross, becoming the first player to score against Argentina in the tournament.

Messi, who turned 39 earlier in the week, came close to scoring again late in the match with another free kick that narrowly missed the target.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said Messi could have played the full match but chose to give teammates more playing time while managing his own workload ahead of the knockout stage.