Lionel Messi just can’t help hogging the headlines.
Even when he’s handed a rest, he still manages to go on and make himself the star of the show. Again.
For 80 minutes of this one-sided game, it looked like being a case of no Messi, no problem for Argentina. Not when someone like Giovani Lo Celso can produce the kind of goal the great man himself would be proud of. Lauturo Martinez added a second and it felt like for once, the mercurial skills of Messi were not needed.
But as promised, Lionel Scaloni introduced Messi on the hour mark. Which was more than enough time for him to create yet more footballing history. With his late free kick making him the first player ever to score in seven consecutive World Cup games. A run which started against Australia in the last 16 of the last World Cup in Qatar. Providing another glorious addition to his personal highlight reel from this 2026 edition in North America and ensuring Argentina won all three group games at a finals for the first time.
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Messi starting on the bench had given someone else in blue and white the chance to score a goal for their team at this World Cup. And Lo Celso took up the challenge with relish.
He thought he had scored in the opening minutes, but his effort was ruled out for off-side. Lo Celso wouldn’t be denied, however, and put Argentine ahead with a sublime free kick into the top corner.
Where was that skill when he was at Tottenham?
Martinez came close to doubling Argentina’s lead when he smashed a shot against the post. But from the resulting scramble, Marcos Senesi was kicked in the head attempting to convert the loose ball, and referee Istvan Kovacs awarded a penalty. Martinez hammered the spot kick past Yawed Abulaila to make it 2-0.
Argentina were in complete cruise control. Nicolas Otamendi flashed a header just wide and Martinez was denied by Abulaila. Scaloni’s men could sense the chance to run up a cricket score.
While Jordan’s beleaguers players could sense being able to get on the plane to leave North America. Messi got a standing ovation when he jumped off his feet to warm up.
The prospect of him going on most have sent a cold shiver down the spine of the Jordanians. This was the last thing they needed. But then something happened no one had expected.
Jordan pulled one back through substitute Mousa Altamari, who beat Emiliano Martinez from close range. Which instantly felt like a big mistake, considering Argentina sent on Messi straight after.
Within minutes he had whistled a free kick just over the crossbar. But he never makes the same mistake twice.
And with the next one, he curled it around the wall and past Abulaila, to have the final word on a night which was never supposed to be about him.
But always seems to be.
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Upgrade your World Cup TV setup with the Sky Glass ‘designed for football’
Sky is knocking 20% off its entire range of Glass TVs to mark the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Until June 17, shoppers can upgrade to the Sky smart TV that’s ‘designed for football’ from £4.50 per month when taken alongside a Sky TV and Netflix package.
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