Messi's World Cup Winner
Lionel Messi Scores Decisive Goal from Bench as Argentina Defeats Jordan in World Cup
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Lionel Messi came off the bench in the 60th minute and scored a low free-kick in the 80th to give Argentina a 1-0 win over Jordan in the Group J finale of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The goal was Messi's sixth of the tournament and his 19th in World Cup history — an all-time record — and the first he has scored at age 39, according to Sky Sports.
Argentina finished the group stage with a perfect nine points, winning all three games. They now advance to face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 on July 3 at Miami Gardens, The Guardian reported. Jordan, making their World Cup debut, finished without a point but earned praise for holding the defending champions scoreless for 80 minutes.
Nine Reserves Started and Still Controlled the Match
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni made nine changes to his starting lineup. Only one regular starter stayed in the XI. The move was designed to manage fatigue ahead of the knockout rounds, Squawka reported. Despite the massive rotation, Argentina still held 68% possession against Jordan's 32%, per FotMob.
The reserve-heavy side featured younger players like Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone. They pressed Jordan at a furious pace. Argentina's PPDA — a stat that measures how many passes a team allows before making a defensive action, with a lower number meaning more pressure — was just 8.6. That was far more aggressive than the 20.0 recorded in the opener against Algeria, according to Squawka.
Messi Entered, and the Lock Was Picked in 20 Minutes
For 60 minutes, Jordan held firm. Then Scaloni sent on Messi, Alexis Mac Allister, and Enzo Fernández. The game changed immediately. Argentina's style shifted from physical pressing to precise, controlled passing. Twenty minutes later, Messi curled a low free-kick past the Jordan goalkeeper to break the deadlock.
Post-match, Messi said: "We knew the boys who started would maintain the level. It was a closed game, but we found the gap." One ESPN FC analyst put it plainly: "Scaloni has two different gears now. One that can outrun you, and one that can out-think you. Jordan fell victim to the latter only after being exhausted by the former."
Messi's Records Keep Piling Up at Age 39
The goal was Messi's 19th in World Cup competition, extending his own all-time record. It also made him the first player to score a World Cup goal at age 39, according to Sky Sports. His six goals in three games tie the pace of his legendary 2022 campaign. It was also his 72nd career free-kick goal, per the Associated Press.
Not everyone is satisfied, though. Some analysts argue that needing a 39-year-old to break a 0-0 deadlock against Jordan — ranked 63rd in the world — raises questions about Argentina's ability to close out tight games without him in the deeper knockout rounds. Argentina's next test, Cape Verde, will be a stiff measure of whether the depth Scaloni showed today can hold up under real pressure.
70,000 Fans and the Big Picture for the 48-Team Format
AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas was sold out, with 70,649 fans in attendance. Resale tickets averaged $1,200, driven largely by the "Messi Effect," WFAA reported. The crowd was dominated by Argentina supporters, turning the Dallas Cowboys' home stadium into a sea of blue and white.
Jordan's participation in the tournament — made possible by the new 48-team format — drew mixed reviews. Critics called the Group J finale a "dead rubber" with little at stake. But Jordan manager Jamal Sellami praised his team's "defensive discipline" in holding the world champions for so long. For a nation playing in its first-ever World Cup, keeping Messi quiet for 80 minutes is no small thing.
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