Lionel Messi added another chapter to his outstanding World Cup career after coming off the bench to score as Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1 and finished the group stage with a perfect result.
Already assured of top spot in Group J, Argentina rested several key players before Messi entered the game in the 60th minute to a standing ovation from the Dallas crowd.
The 39-year-old capped off his performance with a brace from a free-kick, extending Argentina’s lead and setting two more World Cup records.
Messi achieves new milestones
Messi curled a low free-kick around the Jordan wall with 10 minutes remaining to score his sixth goal of the tournament.
The strike took his all-time World Cup tally to 19 goals, extending his record as the competition’s top scorer.
In doing so, he also became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup games.
Argentina ends the group stage without defeat
Argentina took the lead through Giovani Lo Celso, who curled a superb free kick into the top corner in the first half.
Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead from the penalty spot after the video assistant referee reviewed the spot-kick awarded when Marcos Senesi was accidentally kicked in the head while attempting a header.
Jordan responded early in the second half with a well-worked move that finished off Mousa Al Tamari after Ehsan Haddad’s low cross.
The introduction of Messi lifted the atmosphere in the stadium and the veteran striker sealed the victory with his record-breaking free-kick.
Argentina finished the group stage with three wins from three games and will meet World Cup debutants Cape Verde in the round of 16 in Miami on July 3.
Meanwhile, Jordan’s defeat confirmed their elimination from the tournament after they failed to pick up a point in Group J.
