Argentina completed a perfect Group J campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Jordan at Dallas Stadium, as Lionel Messi came off the bench to score another stunning free kick and extend his remarkable scoring streak.
Already assured of top spot, the defending champions maintained their 100 percent record with three wins from three. Jordan, meanwhile, ended their first ever World Cup campaign without a point despite another spirited performance.
Head coach Lionel Scaloni heavily rotated his squad, making nine changes from the side that defeated Austria 2-0. Only Emiliano Martinez and Lautaro Martinez retained their places in the starting lineup, while Messi began the match on the bench. The changes included a completely new back four, with Nicolas Tagliafico, Marcos Senesi, Nicolas Otamendi and Giuliano Simeone coming into the side. Giovani Lo Celso, Leandro Paredes, Nico Paz, Exequiel Palacios and Julian Alvarez also started as Scaloni rested several key players.
Argentina thought they had taken the lead after just seven minutes when Alvarez slipped a perfectly weighted pass through to Lo Celso, who calmly finished with the outside of his boot. However, the assistant referee quickly raised his flag for offside.
Otamendi then came close in the 13th minute, rising highest to meet Lo Celso’s inswinging corner, but the veteran defender headed narrowly over the crossbar in his 17th World Cup appearance.
Argentina finally broke the deadlock in the 19th minute with a moment of brilliance from Lo Celso. After winning a free kick 20 yards from goal following Abu Taha’s challenge, the midfielder curled a superb left footed strike around the wall and into the far corner.
It was Argentina’s first goal of the tournament not scored by Messi and made Lo Celso only the second Argentine player this century to score directly from a World Cup free kick after Messi against Nigeria in 2014. The goal was also the fourth direct free kick scored and the 30th strike from outside the box at the tournament.
The Albiceleste nearly doubled their advantage midway through the half. Lautaro Martinez struck the post from close range before Julian Alvarez’s diving header forced an outstanding save from goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila.
Moments later, VAR intervened after Haddad caught Alvarez in the face while attempting to clear the rebound. Referee Istvan Kovacs reviewed the incident on the pitch side monitor before awarding Argentina a penalty.
Lautaro Martinez stepped up in the 31st minute and confidently blasted his penalty into the left side of the net to make it 2-0, making up for his earlier miss.
Argentina dominated the opening half without ever looking under pressure. Jordan struggled to create meaningful opportunities and managed only three off target efforts while producing an expected goals tally of just 0.10. Meanwhile, Scaloni’s side made their superiority count with two goals from set pieces.
Lo Celso had another goal ruled out for offside shortly after the restart. Lautaro Martinez timed his run too early before rounding the goalkeeper and squaring for his teammate, whose finish once again did not count.
Lautaro then struck the woodwork for a second time in the 53rd minute. Cutting inside from the left, he curled a superb effort that beat the goalkeeper but clipped the crossbar.
Jordan gave themselves hope just two minutes later with a well worked team move. Substitutes Musa Al Tamari and Al Mardi combined brilliantly before Haddad delivered a dangerous first time cross across the six yard box. Al Tamari slid in to finish past Emiliano Martinez and reduce the deficit to 2-1.
The Dallas crowd erupted in the 60th minute as Messi entered the match for the final half hour, taking over the captain’s armband after replacing Lautaro Martinez.
Jordan’s hopes faded 10 minutes from time when Jamous fouled Messi 25 yards from goal. The resulting free kick was in a familiar position for the Argentina captain.
Messi produced another unforgettable moment in the 80th minute. With Alexis Mac Allister, Senesi and Otamendi standing in front of Jordan’s wall to block the goalkeeper’s view, the eight time Ballon d’Or winner curled a brilliant low free kick around the outside of the wall and into the bottom corner to make it 3-1.
The goal was Messi’s sixth of the 2026 World Cup and his 19th overall at the tournament. He also became the first player in history to score in seven consecutive World Cup appearances, extending a remarkable record after becoming the competition’s all time leading scorer earlier in the tournament. Argentina also became only the fourth nation since 1966 to score two direct free kicks in the same World Cup match.
Argentina comfortably secured maximum points from the group stage and now head into the knockout rounds full of confidence as they continue the defence of their world title. Jordan leave the tournament without a point, but their performances throughout their World Cup debut showed plenty of promise for the future.
