Messi comes off the bench to score as Argentina beat Jordan

At a glance

  • Lionel Messi off the bench to score in record-breaking seventh World Cup game in a row

  • Giovani lo Celso free-kick puts Argentina in front in 19th minute

  • Lautaro Martinez penalty, awarded after VAR intervention, makes it two

  • Jordan get one back with superbly worked move finished by Mousa Al Tamari before Messi free-kick seals it for Argentina

  • Argentina win Group J with 100% record and face Cape Verde in last 32; Jordan finish fourth

  • PLAYER RATER

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

Lionel Messi came off the bench to score and break yet another record as Argentina maintained their perfect start to the World Cup with a comfortable victory over Jordan in Dallas.

Having been left on the bench, with Argentina having already won Group J, Messi was brought on in the 60th minute to the loudest cheer of the night.

That was until he curled a low free-kick around the wall to extend Argentina's lead with 10 minutes to go.

The goal was Messi's sixth of the tournament already - putting him two clear of his nearest challengers in the race for the golden boot - and a record-extending 19th World Cup goal.

It also meant the former Barcelona forward became the first man to score in seven consecutive World Cup games.

"Simply incredible," ex-England midfielder Danny Murphy said on BBC One. "He just impacts games.

"He's so clever, so bright. He's so aware of what's going on around him. It's an absolute pleasure to watch him do what he does."

Earlier, former Tottenham midfielder Giovani lo Celso had opened the scoring for a much-changed Argentina team as he whipped a superb free-kick into the top corner.

Striker Lautaro Martinez doubled the lead with an emphatic penalty thumped into the bottom corner, after the referee had been sent to the monitor to see Marcos Senesi had been inadvertently kicked in the head as he dived to head the ball at goal.

While Argentina were in control, Jordan continued to fight and halved the deficit with a brilliantly worked goal 10 minutes into the second half.

Having started the move, substitute Mousa Al Tamari was there to convert Ehsan Haddad's excellent ball across the face of goal.

The stadium erupted a couple of minutes later when Messi was introduced for the last half hour.

There was a buzz of excitement every time he got on the ball in the final third and he gave the fans at Dallas Stadium the moment they so craved with another record-breaking goal.

Messi scores again and gets another record

What's next for these two sides?

It is on to the knockout stage for Argentina, with World Cup debutants Cape Verde their opponents in the last 32.

The game will take place in Miami at 23:00 BST on Friday, 3 July.

Jordan have been knocked out.

Player of the match

L. Messi
8.60
7 Mohammad Abu Zraiq
8.50
17 Saleem Obaid
8.25
6 Amer Jamous
6.83
10 Mousa Al Tamari
6.64
9 Ali Olwan
5.78
13 Mahmoud Al Mardi
5.74
21 Nizar Al Rashdan
5.65
23 Ehsan Haddad
5.59
8 Noor Al Rawabdeh
5.55
11 Odeh Fakhoury
5.49
24 Ali Azaizeh
5.49
20 Mohannad Abu Taha
5.41
5 Yazan Al Arab
5.35
3 Abdallah Nasib
5.32
4 Husam Abu Dahab
4.85
1 Yazeed Abulaila
4.52
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