Messi Makes History as Argentina Tops Group J with 3-1 Win Over Jordan

Lionel Messi became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches as Argentina continued their winning ways with a 3-1 victory over Jordan in their Group J clash in Dallas on Saturday. In the other group match, Austria salvaged a 3-3 draw with Algeria after a thrilling finale featuring two stoppage-time goals, a result that put both teams into the last 32 and sent Iran out of the tournament. The South Americans topped the group, while Austria finished second and will face Spain in the knockout stage. Algeria advanced as one of the best third-placed sides and will meet Switzerland. Argentina went ahead in the 19th minute when Giovani Lo Celso curled in a free kick from 25 metres on his World Cup debut, before Lautaro Martinez converted a penalty. Jordan pulled a goal back when Mousa Altamari slid in at the back post. Substitute Messi, who came on with an hour gone, fired a low free kick into the net with 10 minutes remaining to move past France’s Just Fontaine and the Brazilian Jairzinho by scoring in a seventh match in a row at the global finals. It was the 39-year-old’s sixth goal in three games, and took him two clear of a chasing pack, that includes Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, in the race for the golden boot.