Messi's 19th World Cup goal fires Argentina to unbeaten group exit at FIFA WC 2026
Synopsis
Messi came off the bench, scored in a seventh consecutive World Cup match — a record no player has ever matched — and pushed his all-time WC tally to 19. Argentina, rotating nine players, still beat Jordan 3-1 in Dallas. The message to the rest of the draw is clear: even the B-team gets the job done, and the A-team's captain is in the form of his life.
Key Takeaways
Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 at Dallas Stadium on 28 June to finish the group stage unbeaten.
Lionel Messi came off the bench and scored an 80th-minute free-kick — his 6th goal of FIFA World Cup 2026 .
The goal extended Messi's all-time World Cup scoring record to 19 goals .
Messi has now scored in seven successive World Cup matches — a feat no other player has achieved.
Coach Lionel Scaloni made nine changes from the side that beat Austria 2-0 , with Messi starting on the bench.
It was the first Argentina World Cup starting XI without Messi since 2006 , when they lost to Germany in the quarter-finals.
Lionel Messi came off the bench to curl a stunning free-kick past the Jordanian wall in the 80th minute, taking his FIFA World Cup 2026 tally to 19 all-time goals as Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1 at Dallas Stadium on 28 June to complete the group stage without a defeat.
Messi Makes History Again
The 39-year-old captain's free-kick was his goal in seven successive World Cup matches — a feat no other player in the tournament's history has achieved. The strike also extended his own all-time World Cup scoring record to 19 goals, moving him further clear of any challenger. Notably, this was the first time since 2006 that Argentina had fielded a starting XI without Messi — a tournament in which La Albiceleste were eliminated in the quarter-finals by hosts Germany.
How Argentina Built the Lead
Coach Lionel Scaloni rang in nine changes from the side that beat Austria 2-0 on Monday, handing fringe players a rare start. Giovani Lo Celso had an early effort disallowed by the narrowest of margins before redeeming himself in the 19th minute, unleashing a left-footed strike into the top corner that gave the Jordanian goalkeeper no chance. Lautaro Martínez then converted a penalty — awarded for a foul on Marcos Senesi inside the area — to push the lead to 2-0.
Jordan's Brief Fightback
The second half opened with Jordan pulling one back: a sharp collective move down the right ended with Al-Taamari converting a cross to make it 2-1. The goal injected brief uncertainty, but Argentina's structural control never wavered. Scaloni introduced fresh legs, and with them came Messi, who settled the contest moments later with his trademark set-piece precision.
What This Means for Argentina
Argentina advance to the knockout rounds as group winners, unbeaten through all three fixtures. The rotation strategy employed against Jordan suggests Scaloni is managing his squad's fitness deliberately ahead of the high-stakes elimination rounds. With Messi now in ominous form — six goals in the group stage alone — opposing defences face a daunting proposition. This is the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and Argentina enter the knockout phase as one of the tournament's most formidable sides.
Point of View
But the more telling detail from Dallas is tactical: Scaloni made nine changes and Argentina still won comfortably. That squad depth, absent in previous cycles, is what makes this Argentina genuinely dangerous in the knockout rounds — not just Messi. The concern, if any, is that a Jordan side ranked well below Argentina's knockout-round opponents managed to score. Defences in the last 16 will be far more organised, and Argentina's reliance on individual brilliance at set-pieces — however spectacular — may face sterner tests than a free-kick wall.
NationPress
28 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many World Cup goals does Messi have in total?
Messi's free-kick against Jordan on 28 June took his all-time FIFA World Cup tally to 19 goals, the highest by any player in the tournament's history. The goal came in his seventh successive World Cup match in which he has scored.
Why did Messi start on the bench against Jordan?
Coach Lionel Scaloni made nine changes to manage squad rotation and fitness, with Argentina already assured of progressing. Messi was introduced after the hour mark and scored within minutes of his arrival.
What was the final score between Argentina and Jordan at FIFA World Cup 2026?
Argentina defeated Jordan 3-1 at Dallas Stadium on 28 June 2026. Giovani Lo Celso and Lautaro Martínez scored in the first half before Al-Taamari pulled one back for Jordan; Messi's 80th-minute free-kick sealed the win.
When was the last time Argentina played a World Cup game without Messi in the starting XI?
The last time Argentina fielded a World Cup starting eleven without Messi was in 2006, when La Albiceleste were beaten by hosts Germany in the quarter-finals. The Dallas match against Jordan marked the first such occasion since then.
How does Argentina's group-stage performance set them up for the knockout rounds?
Argentina finish the group stage as unbeaten winners, with Messi in exceptional form — six goals in the group phase alone. The rotation against Jordan also demonstrated squad depth, giving Scaloni options as the tournament moves into high-stakes elimination fixtures.
