Lionel Messi continued his impressive World Cup form by coming off the bench to score his sixth goal of the tournament, helping Argentina secure a 3-1 victory over Jordan on Sunday in Arlington, Texas. With the win, Argentina completed a perfect group stage, finishing atop Group J with nine points ahead of their upcoming knockout match against Cape Verde in Miami on July 3.
Despite having already qualified for the last 32, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni opted to rest several key players, making nine changes from their previous lineup. Still, the team dominated early, with Giovanni Lo Celso opening the scoring from a free kick, followed by a penalty conversion from Lautaro Martinez before halftime. Jordan’s Mousa Al-Tamari pulled a goal back 10 minutes into the second half, but Messi’s late free-kick sealed Argentina’s victory and marked a historic milestone—he became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
Argentina’s success in the group stage saw Messi netting all eight of the team’s goals, including wins over Algeria (3-0) and Austria (2-0). Speaking after the match, Lo Celso acknowledged the group’s challenges and expressed confidence heading into the knockout phase. "We knew we had very tough opponents, and it wasn’t going to be easy," he said. "Now the most important part begins, and Cape Verde will be a very tough opponent."
Cape Verde, ranked 67th and making their World Cup debut, will face the defending champions in what is being viewed as a significant test for the newcomers. Meanwhile, Argentina aims to become the first team since Brazil in 1962 to defend their World Cup title successfully.
The tournament’s group phase concluded with dramatic developments elsewhere. The Democratic Republic of Congo secured their first-ever World Cup match victory by drawing 1-1 with Uzbekistan, a result that advanced them to the knockout rounds for the first time after finishing third in Group K. DR Congo will face England on Wednesday in Atlanta. Striker Yoane Wissa highlighted the significance of the achievement amid the challenges his country faces at home, including ongoing conflict in the eastern region.
In other Group K action, Colombia topped the group after a goalless draw with Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal, relegating Portugal to a playoff against Croatia in the last 32. Croatia’s 2-1 victory over Ghana secured second place in Group L and ended Scotland’s hopes of advancing, prompting Scotland manager Steve Clarke to resign.
England claimed the top spot in Group L after a hard-fought 2-0 win over Panama in New Jersey, with goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane. England manager Thomas Tuchel noted the physicality of their opponents and praised his team’s ability to create multiple scoring opportunities in a challenging match.
The concluding group matches underscored the tournament’s competitive balance, with several African teams advancing, and set the stage for an intense knockout phase beginning in early July.