Lionel Messi came off the bench to become the first man to score in seven World Cup games in a row in Argentina’s 3-1 win over Jordan.
Lionel Scaloni made nine changes to the team with the holders already assured of top spot in Group J but it did not stop Argentina taking control in the first half. Giovani Lo Celso curled in a free-kick before Lautaro Martinez converted from the spot.
Jordan did have a moment to remember in the second half when substitute Mousa Al-Tamari finished a lovely team goal to pull one back. But Scaloni introduced Messi soon after and the maestro delivered the moment that many supporters were there to see.
His low free-kick found the net with the goalkeeper once again wrong-footed. Now 39, Messi has scored six goals at this World Cup, a record 19 in total, and has also done something else no one has done before – scored in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
But he and Argentina have much bigger ambitions at this tournament. They will play Cape Verde in the last 32.
Giovani Lo Celso and Nicolas Otamendi celebrate the opener for Argentina
The key moments from Dallas…
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19: GOAL! Lo Celso curled a free-kick in for the opener
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31: GOAL! Martinez scored a penalty after Senesi was fouled
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55: GOAL! Al-Tamari came off the bench to pull one goal back
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60: SUB! Messi was introduced on the hour to the fans’ delight
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80: GOAL! Messi got his goal by slamming in a low free-kick
Analysis: Another Messi moment
Managing minutes is going to be particularly important for Argentina in this trophy defence for a number of reasons. They have one of the older teams at the tournament and are in the half of the draw that makes the route to the final more testing.
While, say, Germany have five days between each knockout match on their way the final, Argentina will have only four if they want to go all the way. It means that Scaloni must manage the workload and this game was an opportunity to rest Messi.
He kept him back for an hour but the Argentina boss would have been the most unpopular man in Dallas had he denied the crowd a glimpse of the great man. They were rewarded with yet another Messi moment. Scaloni will hope there are more to come.
