Messi's 19th goal and new record: seven in a row

Lionel Messi has written another record into his name at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Coming off the bench in Argentina's 3-1 win over Jordan in their final Group J match, the 39-year-old captain scored to become the first player in history to find the net in seven consecutive World Cup matches.

With Argentina having already secured top spot in the group, coach Lionel Scaloni made nine changes and started Messi on the bench. It was the first time Messi had been a substitute at a World Cup since 2006. Introduced later in the game, he curled home a low free-kick around 10 minutes from time. It was his sixth goal of the tournament and his 19th World Cup goal overall, extending the all-time record he already holds.

Scoring in seven straight games is something no one had achieved before. At the Austria match, Messi had joined France's Just Fontaine (1958) and Brazil's Jairzinho (1970) on a six-game run; the goal against Jordan left him alone at the top. Messi also became the fourth player to score in all three group-stage games of a single World Cup since 1998, joining Cristiano Ronaldo (2018), David Villa and Fernando Torres (2010).

The other goals reflected Argentina's dominance. Giovani Lo Celso curled in a free-kick in the 19th minute to become the first Argentine other than Messi to score at this tournament, while Lautaro Martínez converted a penalty. Jordan's only goal came from second-half substitute Mousa Al-Tamari. The result saw Argentina finish top of Group J with three wins from three.

Two clear in the Golden Boot race on six goals, Messi is the favorite for an individual prize he has yet to win. Drawn against Cape Verde in the last 32, Argentina were warned by Scaloni not to underestimate their opponents. The defending champions march on at the tournament, led as ever by Messi.

Image: Al Jazeera