Messi becomes first to score in 7 straight World Cup games while extending goals record
AP News • • sports
Key Points:
- Lionel Messi extended his all-time men's World Cup scoring record to 19 goals by scoring in Argentina's 3-1 win over Jordan, marking his seventh consecutive World Cup game with a goal.
- Messi scored on a free kick in the 80th minute after coming on as a substitute, demonstrating his continued prowess despite limited playing time and recent minor injury concerns.
- This goal was Messi's 72nd career free kick goal, including 12 for Argentina, placing him among an elite group of players with multiple World Cup free kick goals.
- Argentina had already secured first place in Group J, so Messi did not start the match, but fans at the 70,649-strong crowd enthusiastically welcomed his entrance.
- Messi currently leads the 2026 World Cup scoring race with six goals, two ahead of Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Júnior, and Erling Haaland, as Argentina prepares for the knockout rounds starting Friday.
