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Scaloni running out of superlatives as Messi continues to break records
The 39-year-old Messi netted an 80th-minute free kick to continue a scoring run that saw him surpass the mark he shared with France's Just Fontaine and Brazilian Jairzinho
- PUBLISHED: Sun 28 Jun 2026, 6:04 PM
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said he is running out of ways to describe the performances of Lionel Messi after seeing his captain become the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches in their 3-1 win over Jordan on Saturday.
Messi was introduced from the bench on the hour mark at Dallas Stadium and netted an 80th-minute free kick to continue a scoring run that saw him surpass the mark he shared with France's Just Fontaine and Brazilian Jairzinho.
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"It's a little bit of an uncomfortable situation when people ask me that and I don't know what to say," Scaloni said when quizzed once again about Messi's performance.
"Today he could've played 90 minutes and, without undermining our opponent, he wanted his team mates to have time on the pitch and to save himself for what's coming up.
"He doesn't think so much about the numbers that people are talking about. The only word that comes to mind is that I'm surprised."
Messi's strike put the seal on a largely comfortable win for the champions, who took a two-goal lead into the interval following a Giovani Lo Celso free kick and a penalty from Lautaro Martinez.
Those goals were the first not scored by Messi for Argentina at the current World Cup, before the 39-year-old took his total to a tournament-leading six.
Scaloni had made nine changes to his starting line-up and he was pleased with the performances of those who had featured little in the tournament so far.
"It's a very positive opinion that I have, especially as I was able to include all the players, this was a goal we always set for ourselves," he said.
"I believe all of them deserve to enjoy coming to a World Cup and playing at a World Cup and we were able to give them minutes. I think they played quite well in a difficult match.
"They showed me today that I can count on them."
Argentina next take on Cape Verde in the round of 32 in Miami and Scaloni said he would not underestimate the debutants.
"Based on what I've seen, I'm not surprised," he said of their progress to the knockout rounds. "They're a good team, they have made it very difficult for the three opponents they have played.
"Spain couldn't beat them, Uruguay couldn't either. They're a fast team, they play well with a high calibre of play. I can guarantee you they're a team that's going to make it difficult for us."
Striker Lautaro Martinez, who got the second against debutants Jordan from the spot, told broadcasters: "We are feeling good, now we have to rest, recharge our batteries to think about what is coming, which is going to be difficult.
"Today we faced an important team like Jordan, we had to do our job and we did it and that's why we leave happy and very excited for what's to come."
Fellow first-half goal scorer Giovani Lo Celso said it had been almost the perfect group stage.
"It's a pity about the goal we conceded today, we would've liked to end with a clean sheet," he said.
"Still, I think it was a very good group stage. Now the most important part begins.
"From now on, it's about turning the page and thinking about Cape Verde, who will be a very tough opponent."
Cape Verde, ranked 67 in the world, squeezed into the next stage with three draws, one of them a goalless stalemate with Spain.