35 minutes into the second half against Jordan, Lionel Andres Messi scored his sixth goal in the World Cup 2026. He caressed the ball on a free kick at the door of the area and the ball traveled into the space between two Argentines and a Jordanian. The goalkeeper of the Asian team did not even jump, as in the shot of the first goal, scored by Giovani Lo Celso.
Messi continued breaking records: He scored his 19th goal in the World Cupthat is, he extended his record, and became the first footballer to score a goal in seven consecutive World Cup matches. The series began in the round of 16 match at Qatar 2022, against Australia, and continued against the Netherlands, Croatia, France (all in 2022) and Algeria, Austria and Jordan (the latter in 2026).
As Lionel Scaloni had anticipated in the press conference prior to the match with Jordan, Messi started the game on the substitute bench. Three minutes into the second half the signal came. And the Argentine captain began warming up. The murmur of the audience transformed into applause. Everyone wants to see the Argentine number 10 in action. Even if it is in a game that does not define anything; or in which everything is defined.
Messi played half an hourso as not to lose the habit. In the process, he expanded his legend a little more. Perhaps, one of the easiest of his activity in the World Cup, because the Jordanian goalkeeper Yazeed Abulalia He set up the barrier badly (again). The Flea clocked the arc once, twice and even three times. There was no coverage in that place. And that’s where the ball went. No need to travel at the speed of light, but fast enough that the Jordanian archer couldn’t do anything. It was a goal. From Messi. One more time. And, incidentally, it helped La Pulga to equal in statistics a free throw specialist like Juninho Pernambucano. The Brazilian, who every time he took charge of the dead ball the goal loomed in the air, scored 72 goals in that way in his entire career. Messi reached that (huge) figure in Dallas.
“Leo’s goal… happy. Now the good thing is coming”said Lionel Scaloni in TyC Sports and Telefé. That phrase from the coach defined what this Friday’s game meant, with Messi’s half hour and his goal, which allowed him to reach 19 goals in the World Cup. And, by the way, distance yourself from the French Kylian Mbappé, Ousmane Dembelethe Norwegian Erling Haaland and the Brazilian Vinícius Jr.
To find another free kick goal from Messi in a World Cup you have to go back 12 years in time. The previous one had been against Nigeriain the third match of the group stage of Brazil 2014. On June 25 of that year, at the Beira Río stadium, the Argentine team drew 1-1 against the African team. Messi took charge of the set piece from a much further distance than the free kick to Jordan. The ball entered the left corner of Vincent Enyeamathe Nigerian goalkeeper.
It meant the 2-1 for the Argentine teamwho would end up winning 3-2 and securing first place in the group. In 2014, just like in 2026. That time, the group led by Alejandro Sabella would reach the final, which they would lose in extra time to Germany. Now, history is about to be written. And, for now, the next obstacle is Cape Verde.
