Lionel Messi once again demonstrated his prowess by scoring his sixth goal of the tournament, helping Argentina secure a 3-1 victory over Jordan as they prepare for their World Cup knockout match against Cape Verde.
The match, held in Texas, saw Argentina finish atop Group J with a flawless record, having previously defeated Algeria 3-0 and Austria 2-0. Remarkably, all those goals were scored by Messi, who, despite being 39 years old, continues to lead the tournament’s scoring charts in North America.
Starting on the bench due to Argentina already securing qualification, Messi entered the game after 60 minutes to a warm reception. He sealed the win with a brilliant free-kick, marking his team’s third goal.
Argentina’s Depth Tested as Jordan Battles Exit
With the group stage concluded, Argentina fielded a heavily rotated squad against Jordan, making nine changes and retaining only goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez and forward Lautaro Martinez from the previous match against Austria.
Despite the changes, Argentina took an early lead through a free-kick by Giovani Lo Celso, followed by a penalty successfully converted by Lautaro Martinez. Jordan, already eliminated after losses to Algeria and Austria, managed to pull one goal back through Mousa Al-Tamari ten minutes into the second half, but it was insufficient to challenge the holders.
Looking ahead, Cape Verde, making their World Cup debut and ranked 67th, will face a formidable Argentine side on July 3 in Miami. The encounter promises to test the champions, who, although in one of the tournament’s less demanding groups, have shown a blend of experience and squad depth under coach Lionel Scaloni.