ARLINGTON, Texas — Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Jordan on June 27 to conclude the group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, highlighted by a milestone goal from Giovani Lo Celso, who scored in his first World Cup appearance after nearly a decade of setbacks.

Lo Celso, 30, who plays for Real Betis, entered the tournament having missed the 2022 World Cup due to injury and not seeing any playing time in 2018. In this match, he capitalized on a free kick from outside the penalty area, delivering a left-footed strike that earned him the man of the match honors.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Lo Celso said following the game. “It was a long journey, but tonight exceeded all my expectations. I’m very thankful to the coaching staff, my teammates and my family for their support.”

Argentina’s manager Lionel Scaloni acknowledged Lo Celso’s perseverance, noting that despite missing out on Qatar 2022 under difficult circumstances, the player remained committed to the team. “He supported us even when he wasn’t on the pitch,” Scaloni said through a translator. “I wanted to give him the opportunity, and he responded well by scoring a goal.”

The Argentine lineup for the game featured a number of players typically considered substitutes, with Lo Celso among the starters. Lautaro Martinez, who has consistently started in the group stage matches against Algeria, Austria and Jordan, continued his run as a key forward. Despite participating in several matches, Martinez had yet to score at a World Cup until this match.

Martinez opened the scoring in the 31st minute with a penalty kick, marking a significant moment for Argentina. His successful conversion was the first penalty scored by an Argentine player other than Lionel Messi at a World Cup since Gabriel Batistuta’s shootout goal in 1998. Notably, the last non-Messi penalty attempt before Martinez was missed by Ariel Ortega in 2002.

Meanwhile, Messi continued to extend his World Cup legacy by netting a goal against Jordan, setting a new record with goals in seven consecutive World Cup tournaments. His goal brought his tally in the 2026 tournament to six, accounting for a substantial portion of Argentina’s offensive output once again.

Lo Celso and Martinez’s goals represented the first Argentine goals at this World Cup not scored by Messi, who had similarly dominated the goal-scoring charts in the 2022 tournament with seven goals among Argentina’s 13 total.

Both players had additional chances during the match; Lo Celso found the net in the seventh and 47th minutes but was called offside, while Martinez struck the crossbar twice. Despite the relatively low stakes of the game, the night was a breakthrough for the two players—one a seasoned starter in Argentina’s attack and the other finally stepping onto the World Cup stage after years of waiting.

Reflecting on the journey, Lo Celso emphasized the role of perseverance and support from loved ones. “Your family sustains you. They suffer in the bad times and enjoy the good,” he said, capturing the emotional significance of his long-awaited World Cup moment.