Lionel Messi didn’t have much time to try to become the first to score in seven consecutive World Cup games.
Argentina’s superstar did it anyway as a second-half substitute.
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 a group stage finale on Saturday night.
In his first match since turning 39 three days earlier, Messi scored on a free kick in the 80th minute after being taken down just outside the penalty area. The low kick barely above the grass surface split two Jordan defenders into the left corner of the net.
It was his 72nd career goal on a free kick, including his 12th for Argentina. Messi now has 123 international goals — second all-time to Cristiano Ronaldo’s 145 — in 202 appearances.
Messi had been one of only three players to
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