Football icon Lionel Messi has once again redefined greatness, cementing his legacy in the annals of the sport. During a FIFA World Cup 2026 fixture against Jordan, the Argentina captain executed a masterclass free-kick to achieve a feat that no footballer in history had previously managed. Messi is now the first player in the world to score in seven consecutive FIFA World Cup matches.
In the Group J clash held in Dallas, Argentina had already secured their spot in the next stage of the tournament, which led to Messi starting the game on the bench. He made his entry onto the pitch in the 60th minute, replacing Lautaro Martinez. The defining moment arrived in the 80th minute when Argentina earned a free-kick just outside the penalty box. Displaying his trademark precision, Messi curled the ball through a defensive wall and into the corner of the goalpost.
With this strike, he successfully completed a streak of scoring in seven straight World Cup games. Previously, this record was shared by French legend Just Fontaine and Brazilian icon Jairzinho, both of whom had scored in six consecutive World Cup matches. Messi has now surpassed both legends to establish a new historical benchmark.
A Consistent Scoring Streak
The journey toward this historic milestone began during the 2022 FIFA World Cup pre-quarterfinals. Following that stage, he went on to score in the quarter-finals, the semi-finals, and the final match against France. He carried this momentum into the current World Cup, where he opened his campaign with a hat-trick against Algeria, followed by a brace against Austria, and finally the free-kick goal against Jordan to extend the sequence to seven matches.
This particular goal brings Messi's total tally in the FIFA World Cup to 19. It also marks the 72nd free-kick goal of his career and his 12th for Argentina. In international football, Messi has now accumulated 123 goals in 202 appearances. He currently sits in second place on the all-time international goal-scoring list, trailing Portugal's superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who leads with 145 goals. Messi had recently become the highest goal-scorer in World Cup history, shattering the long-standing record of 16 goals previously held by German legend Miroslav Klose.
A Significant Milestone for Argentina
Propelled by Messi’s historic contribution, Argentina concluded their group stage matches in spectacular fashion while achieving a significant milestone. Argentina has now become the third team in the history of the FIFA World Cup to register 50 or more match victories, joining the ranks of Brazil and Germany. This achievement underscores the team's ongoing dominance and the brilliance of Messi's leadership on the global stage.
