Lionel Messi Achieves World Cup Milestone With Goal Against Jordan

Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup games with a smart free-kick in the 80th minute of Argentina's match against Jordan in Dallas on Saturday night, June 28, 2026. Messi entered the match in the 60th minute, having not started Argentina's group stage finale against Jordan, as his team had already secured first place in their group. After being fouled just outside the penalty area, he picked himself up to take the free-kick. Messi expertly curled the ball low around the wall, wrong-footing goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila and putting Argentina ahead 3-1—marking his 19th goal in World Cup history.

Prior to this match, Messi had been among only three players to have scored in six consecutive World Cup games, alongside French striker Just Fontaine and Brazilian legend Jairzinho. This latest goal allowed him to distinguish himself from this exclusive group. His wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, celebrated exuberantly in the stands as Messi was embraced by his teammates on the field.

The crowd at AT&T Stadium erupted in chants of Messi's name as the second half commenced, cheering even during his warm-ups before entering the game. The roar grew louder that night, just three days after Messi's 39th birthday. As the all-time leading men's World Cup scorer, he had accounted for Argentina's first five goals in this tournament.

Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez had already scored in the first half against Jordan, a team eliminated from contention for the knockout stages. Messi had been managing a minor hamstring injury from his time with Inter Miami, but he continued to make an impact. Even though he has never claimed the golden boot as the leading scorer of a World Cup, he recorded six goals in this tournament, placing him two goals ahead of France's Kylian Mbappe, who is in second place.

Argentina's coach, Lionel Scaloni, made nine changes to the squad for this match, preserving only Emi Martinez and Lautaro Martinez in their positions, given their confirmation as group winners. A foul on Lo Celso led to him curling in a fine free-kick, becoming the first Argentina player other than Messi to score in this World Cup. Martinez had his shot rebound off the crossbar, and during the scramble, Marco Senesi was fouled, resulting in a penalty awarded by VAR, which Martinez then converted.

After another historic goal, Messi was celebrated by his teammates and the Argentine fans who went wild after he entered the game. Argentina now has several days to prepare for the knockout rounds, with their next match against Cape Verde on Friday, July 3 in Miami.