Lionel Messi came off the bench to score his seventh consecutive World Cup match goal as Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1 to finish Group J with a perfect nine points.
Argentina finished the World Cup group stage with a perfect nine points on Sunday, defeating Jordan 3-1 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, as Lionel Messi came off the bench to extend his record to seven consecutive World Cup matches with a goal.
Argentina dominated from the start, opening the scoring in the 19th minute when Giovani Lo Celso curled a spectacular 20-yard free-kick into the top-left corner. Around the half-hour mark, a VAR review confirmed a penalty after Jordan’s Nizar Al-Rashdan caught Marcos Senesi with a high boot to the face. Lautaro Martínez converted the spot-kick to double the lead.
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Jordan fought back early in the second half. Halftime substitute Musa Al-Taamari slotted home a low cross from Ihsan Haddad in the 55th minute to make it 2-1, ending Argentina’s defensive streak of not conceding in the tournament. However, Messi sealed the match in the 80th minute with a signature low free-kick through the Jordanian wall.
Argentina dominated possession with 70 percent and registered 13 shots, five on target, while Jordan managed five shots, one on target. Argentine passing accuracy stood at 93 percent compared to Jordan’s 81 percent.
Messi’s goal marked his 19th career World Cup tally, extending his historic men’s tournament record. He also became the first player in football history to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches. Al-Taamari’s strike was the first goal conceded by Argentina during the 2026 tournament.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, Argentina will face Cabo Verde in the Round of 32 on July 3 in Miami. Jordan exits their maiden tournament with zero points.
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Before Kickoff
Venue and Kickoff Time
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- Stadium: AT&T Dallas Stadium (Arlington, Texas)
- Kickoff: 02:00 GMT
⚽ Pre-Match Analysis
📋 Predicted Lineups
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- Jordan Starting XI: Abu Laila; Nasib, Al-Arab, Al-Ajalin; Haddad, Al-Rashdan, Al-Rawabdeh, Al-Mardi; Al-Taamari, Olwan; Al-Naimat.
- Argentina Starting XI: E. Martínez; Molina, C. Romero, Otamendi, Tagliafico; De Paul, Enza Fernandez, Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Di María.
📊 Match Facts and Head-to-Head (H2H)
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- H2H Record: This is the first competitive senior international fixture between Jordan and Argentina.
- Key Fact: Argentina has scored five goals across their opening two games while conceding only once.
Last Updated on July 2, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
