ARLINGTON, Texas — In an unexpected twist at AT&T Stadium, Argentina captain Lionel Messi began the final Group J match against Jordan on the substitute’s bench, prompting the crowd to chant his name.
Before the game, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni indicated that, having already secured first place in the group, he needed to rest key players and assess the depth of his squad.
This led Scaloni to field a blend of experienced players and newcomers against Jordan. Notably, Giovani Lo Celso, Giuliano Simeone, Nico Paz, and Marcos Senesi made their World Cup debuts, while the seasoned Nicolás Otamendi (38) and Nicolás Tagliafico (33) rounded out the lineup’s average age.
“Today was a match to avoid risking players and to assess alternatives,” Scaloni stated post-match. His strategy paid off as La Albiceleste triumphed with a convincing 3-1 victory.
In the early stages of the match, Argentina dominated possession, holding 83% and keeping Jordan confined to their half. By the 19th minute, Lo Celso opened the scoring with a superb free kick from just outside the box—a role Messi would typically play—marking him as only the second Argentine player to score in this World Cup after Messi himself.
Striker Lautaro Martínez followed suit, netting a penalty before halftime, also stepping in for Messi, and celebrating his first World Cup goal with a fresh start gesture.
Scaloni expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, noting, “Everyone played well; giving minutes to all players makes us happy. Lo Celso was unable to feature in the last World Cup [due to injury], and Lautaro hadn’t scored until now. Their contributions are valuable. The exciting phase is ahead.”
No match involving Argentina at this World Cup would be complete without a Messi goal. Following a surprising equalizer from Mousa Al-Tamari for Jordan, Messi came off the bench for Martínez in the 60th minute and added to his remarkable tournament tally with a signature free kick that sent the crowd into a frenzy.
Messi has now scored in seven consecutive World Cup matches, extending his record streak and increasing his total tournament goals to 19, a feat that only a few players have achieved historically, including France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.
“I’m so happy for Messi, especially seeing him perform at this level,” Lo Celso remarked post-match. “His presence is truly inspiring and vital to our team.”
With a commanding display, Argentina recorded 12 shots, enjoyed 73% possession, and posted an expected goals tally of 2.13. More importantly, they demonstrated their capacity to thrive even in Messi’s absence.
Next, they will face World Cup newcomers Cape Verde in Miami during the round of 32. The undefeated Cape Verde team has drawn matches against heavyweights like Spain, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, showing that their defensive strategies may pose a challenge for the reigning champions.
Scaloni remains confident that if Cape Verde or any future opponents manage to neutralize Messi, La Albiceleste will still shine, backed by plenty of players capable of stepping up. “We always focus on ourselves; every opponent presents a tough challenge,” he concluded. “We need to maximize our strengths against them.”