Argentina finished the FIFA World Cup 2026 group stage with a perfect record after defeating Jordan 3-1 in their final Group J match at Arlington, Texas, on Saturday. The victory also saw Lionel Messi create another piece of World Cup history after scoring from a second-half free kick.
Messi, who started the match on the bench, came on in the second half and found the net with a trademark free kick. The goal made him the first player in FIFA World Cup history to score in seven consecutive World Cup appearances, adding another milestone to his legendary international career.
Argentina Finish Group Stage with Maximum Points
Argentina secured all three points thanks to first-half goals from Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martinez before Messi added the third after the break. Jordan managed to pull one goal back, but it was not enough to challenge the defending champions.
The win ensured Argentina finished at the top of Group J with nine points from three matches, maintaining a 100 percent record. They joined France and co-host Mexico as the only teams to win all their group-stage matches.
Messi Adds Another Historic Achievement
Messi’s free-kick goal further strengthened his remarkable World Cup legacy. The Argentine captain became the first footballer to score in seven successive FIFA World Cup appearances, underlining his consistency on football’s biggest stage.
The 39-year-old continues to play a vital role for Argentina despite being carefully managed during the tournament, with coach Lionel Scaloni opting to introduce him from the bench in the group finale.
Round of 32 Awaits Argentina
With the group stage completed, Argentina will now face Cape Verde in the Round of 32. The South American side enters the knockout stage as one of the tournament favourites after winning all three group matches and displaying strong attacking form.
Argentina will look to carry this momentum into the knockout rounds as they continue their bid to defend the FIFA World Cup title.
