More records tumble, as Messi posts longest tournament scoring streak

ARLINGTON, Texas — As a second-half substitute, Lionel Messi didn't have much time to try to become the first to score in seven consecutive World Cup games.

But, to nobody's surprise, Argentina's superstar did it anyway.

Messi made it seven straight while extending the all-time men's World Cup scoring record with his 19th goal in Argentina's 3-1 victory over Jordan in their group stage finale on Saturday night.

In his first match since turning 39 three days earlier, Messi scored from a freekick after being taken down just outside the penalty box in the 80th minute. The low drive, barely above the grass, split two Jordan defenders and powered into the left corner of the net.

It was his 72nd career goal from a freekick, including his 12th for Argentina. Messi now has 123 international goals — second only to Cristiano Ronaldo's all-time leading 145 — in 202 appearances.

Messi had been one of only three players to score in six consecutive World Cup games along with France striker Just Fontaine and Brazil great Jairzinho.

Messi also joined Brazilian greats Pele and Rivellino, Peru's Teofilo Cubillas, France's Bernard Genghini and England's David Beckham to have scored two World Cup goals directly from freekicks, at least, since such records started being kept in 1966.

"I am very happy for him, for the moment he is having," Giovani Lo Celso said after becoming the first Argentine other than Messi to score in this tournament so far, also from a freekick in the 19th minute.

"The truth is that seeing him every day excites, and is infectious. So, obviously, seeing him like that, for us, is very important."

Messi didn't start because Argentina had already clinched first place in Group J, and the game had become somewhat of dead rubber, with Jordan already eliminated.

Nevertheless, the decidedly pro-Argentina crowd of 70,649 at the home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys was eager to see Messi.

Fans started chanting his name as soon as the second half started, and cheered loudly when he came off the bench to go through his warm-up.

The roar was louder when he stepped onto the field in the 60th minute, replacing Lautaro Martinez, who scored from the penalty spot in the first half.

For all the accomplishments of the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, Messi has never won the World Cup's Golden Boot. Maybe he'll manage on his sixth attempt. He now has six goals in this tournament, two clear of France's Kylian Mbappe, Brazil's Vinicius Junior and Norway's Erling Haaland.

Argentina will now look toward its round-of-32 fixture on Friday in Miami, where it will help to write the next chapter in World Cup debutant Cape Verde's fairytale run.

AP