Give Lionel Messi just half an hour, and he will deliver unforgettable moments of brilliance. For much of the match, the crowd beneath the expansive stadium felt a sense of anticipation, as the stakes were low, reflected in both the game’s pace and atmosphere. The events leading up to Messi’s appearance felt like a prelude, a setup for the inevitable crescendo that was to follow. Fans eagerly awaited the chance to witness another historic achievement from their idol.
Messi’s entry came as no surprise; he had agreed with coach Lionel Scaloni to wait until the 60th minute, with Argentina already assured of their position in Group J. This cautious approach was sensible, given the match’s lack of importance. Once he stepped onto the field, however, it transformed into a moment of significance, a chance to celebrate the legacy of a footballing icon. He did not disappoint, leaving a trail of delighted fans glowing in the muggy Texas night.
After initially sending a free-kick soaring over the bar, Messi was fouled 22 yards from the goal. The position was ideal, and the outcome felt inevitable. Messi curled the ball around Jordan’s wall, placing it perfectly in the center of Yazeed Abulaila’s net. The goalkeeper had once again been caught off guard, though few were focused on his positioning amid the celebrations.
“He could have played 90 minutes but, without undermining our opponent, he wanted his teammates to have time on the pitch and save himself for what’s coming up,” Scaloni remarked. “He doesn’t think so much about the numbers people are talking about so I’m happy he decided that. He said that’s what he wanted to do and I was in agreement with him. That speaks volumes.”
Let’s review the latest statistics: Messi has scored six goals across three matches, placing him two ahead of Kylian Mbappe in what could be an extraordinary race for the golden boot. Additionally, his 19th goal in all World Cup competitions extends the record he set earlier this week, and he also made history by becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches as he enters his 40th year.
Looking ahead, Argentina expects to face a formidable challenge from Cape Verde. The draw has opened up for them, and they may only face serious competition from Colombia or Switzerland on their path to the semi-finals. “I guarantee, believe me, that it’s going to be a team that makes things difficult for us,” Scaloni stated regarding their upcoming round of 32 opponents, but the opportunity to defend their title is firmly in Argentina’s grasp.
Scaloni opted for nine changes in the lineup for this match, as both teams had little left to play for due to the convoluted head-to-head rules. Would a historic win for Jordan, who once held a theoretical chance of progressing, be diminished by the earlier losses to Algeria and Austria? Argentina’s substitutes rendered that question moot, yet a hint of underdog charm remained.
Jordan managed to produce the best-constructed goal of the match. Trailing by two, and with Messi warming up, captain Ehsan Haddad skillfully maneuvered past Nico Paz. He delivered an impeccable ball behind Exequiel Palacios, and after a precise first-time cross from Haddad, Musa Al-Tamari converted it with a stretch. This clever play enabled Jordan to score against all three opponents this summer.
Jamal Sellami, Jordan’s head coach, expressed pride in this achievement but also recognized the cost of minor errors against top-tier teams. “But as we were competing with high level teams small errors were very costly,” he noted. They felt that Abu Taha’s foul in the seventh minute was harsh, giving Giovani Lo Celso the chance to shoot from the edge of the box. His technically sound free-kick was met with a poor position from Abulaila, who was too far left to make a save. Lo Celso, who missed the 2018 World Cup due to injury, celebrated his return to this prestigious stage.
Another subplot for Argentina was the partnership between Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez upfront. Only one of them can accompany Messi against Cape Verde, but they were both given the chance to perform in this match. Alvarez appeared fit after recent ankle issues, but Martinez played with more intensity. He scored a VAR-awarded penalty shortly after the half-hour mark, having previously hit the bar in a sequence that led to Nizar Al-Rashdan kicking Marcos Senesi in the face. Martinez later hit the woodwork again from distance and looks more likely to start in Miami.
The remainder of the spotlight belonged to Messi. “I just said: ‘Get warmed up, you’re going on’,” Scaloni recalled with a chuckle. “What am I going to tell him?” Yet again, Messi was ready to steal the show.
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