Historic Messi Streak
Messi Sets New World Cup Record, Scores in Seven Straight Games
Lionel Messi made history on June 27, 2026, becoming the first player ever to score in seven straight World Cup games. The 39-year-old Argentine came off the bench in the 60th minute against Jordan and curled a free kick into the net in the 80th minute, sealing a 3-1 win and pushing his all-time World Cup goals record to 19. Associated Press confirmed the milestone.
No player in the tournament's history had ever scored in seven consecutive World Cup matches. Messi broke the previous record of six straight games, a mark he shared with Just Fontaine of France (1958) and Jairzinho of Brazil (1970), according to CNA.
From the Bench to the Record Books in 20 Minutes
Coach Lionel Scaloni kept Messi out of the starting lineup to manage his workload in what was effectively a "dead rubber" group game. Scaloni told veteran journalist Enrique Macaya Márquez, who is covering his 18th World Cup at age 91, that "Leo will start later... those who play deserve it," according to Sports Illustrated.
When Messi entered for Lautaro MartÃnez at the 60-minute mark, the crowd of over 70,000 at Dallas Stadium erupted. Twenty minutes later, he was taken down outside the box. He stepped up and bent a free kick past the Jordanian keeper. It was his 72nd career free-kick goal, per WNEM.
A Record Built Across Two World Cups and Four Years
Messi's streak did not start in 2026. It began in Qatar in December 2022, when he scored against Australia in the Round of 16. He then netted goals against the Netherlands, Croatia, and France to close out that tournament. Argentina won the title. The streak carried directly into 2026, according to Bolavip.
In this year's group stage alone, Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria on June 16, tying Miroslav Klose's old record of 16 goals. Four days later, he broke it with a brace against Austria, scoring his 17th and 18th goals. His 19th against Jordan now stands as the new high-water mark, per KCRG.
Argentina Proves It Can Win Without Messi Carrying Every Goal
The Jordan match offered a glimpse of Argentina beyond Messi. Giovani Lo Celso opened the scoring with a free kick in the 19th minute — the first goal by an Argentine other than Messi in this tournament. Lautaro MartÃnez added a penalty in the 31st minute, his first World Cup goal since the 2022 opener, according to The Washington Post.
Argentina finished Group J with a perfect 3-0 record. The defending champions face Cape Verde — the smallest nation still in the tournament — next in Miami. Fox8 Live noted that the team's depth finally showed up just as the knockout rounds begin.
Messi at 39 Is Somehow Getting Better on the Biggest Stage
Messi turned 39 on June 24, just three days before the Jordan game. Analysts from ESPN noted he has shifted into a more efficient "clutch" scorer rather than a high-volume runner — taking fewer touches but converting in the biggest moments. He leads the 2026 Golden Boot race with 6 goals in just 3 matches.
With 19 World Cup goals, Messi is one away from becoming the first player in history to reach 20. He also has 24 total goal contributions (goals plus assists), passing Pelé's record of 21, according to KCTV5. The Round of 32 match against Cape Verde could be where he gets there.
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