Messi becomes first to score in 7 straight World Cup games while extending goals record

Lionel Messi broke another record after coming off the bench to score for defending champions Argentina at the FIFA World Cup.

Messi scored a second-half free-kick as Argentina beat Jordan 3-1 in Arlington, Texas on Sunday (AEST).

With this goal, the 39-year-old became the first player ever to score in seven straight World Cup appearances.

Messi started on the bench in Argentina’s Group J final match, as the team had already qualified for the Round of 32 against debutants Cape Verde.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner came on after an hour and scored 20 minutes later.

His goal also increased his all-time World Cup tally to 19, moving further ahead of Germany’s Miroslav Klose.

He has now scored six goals in three matches in this tournament and is leading the Golden Boot race.

Messi is also Argentina’s all-time top scorer and most-capped player, with 123 goals in 202 international matches so far.

Giovani Lo Celso became the first Argentina player other than Messi to score in this World Cup.

In his first World Cup start, Lo Celso scored a direct free-kick in the 19th minute.

Lautaro Martínez added a second goal from a penalty in the 31st minute.

Martínez, who was later replaced by Messi, and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez were the only players to start all three group matches for Argentina.

Argentina have now won seven of their last nine World Cup matches and will face Cape Verde in the Round of 32 in Miami.

This is the fifth time Argentina have won all their group-stage matches, and the first time since 2010 and 2014. They have 14 wins, two losses, and three draws in their last 19 group games.

France and Mexico were the only other teams in this expanded 48-team World Cup to finish the group stage with maximum points.

Jordan, ranked 72nd in the world, lost all three matches in their debut World Cup and scored three goals while conceding eight.

Mousa Al-Tamari scored Jordan’s only goal in the 55th minute.

Earlier, Lo Celso had a goal disallowed for offside before winning a free kick after being fouled outside the penalty area.

It was Argentina’s first direct free-kick goal in a World Cup since Messi scored against Nigeria in 2014.

Later, a VAR review led to a penalty after Julián Álvarez was fouled in the box, which helped Argentina extend their lead.