Give Lionel Messi just half an hour on the pitch, and he will likely conjure a moment of brilliance that fans will remember forever. For much of the match, the crowd, enveloped in a sense of anticipation, seemed to experience a form of ‘Messidependencia,’ as the game unfolded at a slow pace, lacking the urgency typically seen in high-stakes encounters. The atmosphere shifted dramatically with Messi’s introduction, as spectators braced themselves for yet another historic display from their idol.
Messi’s entry was meticulously timed, as he had previously agreed with head coach Lionel Scaloni to wait until the 60th minute to step onto the field, given Argentina’s secure position at the top of Group J. With no risks deemed necessary for a match that had little bearing on the standings, his arrival transformed the evening into a significant occasion, further solidifying his legendary status. Upon entering, Messi delivered once more, delighting the crowd in the warm Texas night.
Prior to scoring, Messi had attempted a free-kick that soared over the bar, but shortly after, he was fouled 22 yards from goal. The free-kick position, centrally located, was almost too enticing to resist. Messi executed his shot with precision, bending the ball around Jordan’s wall and into the net, leaving goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila rooted to the spot. The keeper, having been caught off guard, was not the focus of attention as fans celebrated Messi’s genius.
“He could have played 90 minutes but, without undermining our opponent, he wanted his teammates to have time on the pitch and save himself for what’s coming up,” Scaloni remarked. “He doesn’t think so much about the numbers people are talking about so I’m happy he decided that. He said that’s what he wanted to do and I was in agreement with him. That speaks volumes.”
To highlight Messi’s performance, he has now scored six goals in three matches, placing him two ahead of Kylian Mbappe in the race for the golden boot. His latest achievement marks the 19th goal across all iterations of this tournament, extending the record set earlier in the week, and it was particularly special as it was his first goal in his 40th year. Additionally, with this stunning free-kick, he became the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches.
Looking ahead, Argentina aims to face Cape Verde with a reinvigorated Messi. The draw has seemingly favored them, as it appears their only significant challenge could come from Colombia or Switzerland on their path to the semi-finals. “I guarantee, believe me, that it’s going to be a team that makes things difficult for us,” Scaloni stated regarding their next opponents, yet the prospect of defending their title is firmly in Argentina’s grasp.
For this match, Scaloni made nine roster changes, as both teams had little to gain due to the anti-competitive head-to-head rules in place. While a historic win for Jordan could have added a romantic narrative to the evening, the outcome was ultimately determined by Argentina’s substitutes. Nevertheless, Jordan managed to score a well-crafted goal, showcasing their skill.
Jordan’s captain, Ehsan Haddad, demonstrated exceptional footwork to evade Nico Paz and delivered a perfect assist to Musa Al-Tamari, who converted from close range. This moment of brilliance highlighted Jordan’s ability to challenge their opponents, even if they were ultimately outmatched. Jamal Sellami, the head coach for Jordan, expressed pride in their accomplishment despite the defeat, stating, “But as we were competing with high level teams small errors were very costly,”
Argentina’s subplot revolved around Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez leading the attack. Only one will be chosen to support Messi against Cape Verde, but both were given opportunities in this match. Alvarez appears to have overcome previous ankle issues, while Martinez displayed greater urgency, scoring a VAR-awarded penalty shortly after the half-hour mark. He also struck the woodwork and looks set to be the favored option in their next match.
As Messi prepared to enter the field, Scaloni joked, “I just said: ‘Get warmed up, you’re going on’,” Once again, Messi wrote the script for an unforgettable performance.
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