Argentina, already qualified, closed out the group stage of the 2026 World Cup on Saturday with a perfect record by defeating an already eliminated Jordan 3-1, with Lionel Messi once again finding the back of the net.
In a match where nothing was left to play for, the South Americans cruised to a natural victory, setting up the win in the first half through a Giovani Lo Celso free kick in the 19th minute and a Lautaro Martínez penalty in the 31st minute.
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The Jordanians managed to pull one back in the 55th minute through Mousa Al Tamari, but the “inevitable” Messi subbed on in the 60th minute and scored in the 80th, also from a direct free kick. This marked his sixth goal of the 2026 edition, his 19th overall in World Cups, and his seventh consecutive World Cup match with a goal, a streak dating back to 2022.
The match ultimately served as another training session for the Argentines, who will face Cape Verde in the round of 32 on Friday. Meanwhile, debutants Jordan bowed out of the tournament without a single point but having managed to score in every one of their group stage matches.
