Lionel Messi etched his name further into footballing legend on Wednesday, coming off the bench to score and become the first player in FIFA World Cup history to find the net in seven consecutive matches, as Argentina swept aside Jordan 3-1 in their final Group J fixture.

The Argentina captain entered the contest as a substitute and wasted no time in making his presence felt, adding his goal to a dominant team performance that secured top spot heading into the knockout rounds.

The result — Argentina's emphatic close to the group stage — confirms the South American giants as one of the tournament's most formidable forces. Jordan pulled one back to make it 3-1, but the damage had long been done.

A record for the ages

Messi's milestone stands as one of the most remarkable individual achievements in World Cup history. No player before him had ever scored in seven straight matches at the tournament, cementing his status as the defining player of his generation — and arguably of all time.

At 37, Messi continues to defy both age and expectation on football's grandest stage, delivering when his team needs him most. His introduction from the bench underlined the luxury Argentina possess — even when starting in reserve, their captain can still change the course of a match.

Argentina cruise through Group J

The 3-1 victory brought Argentina's group stage campaign to a convincing conclusion. Their attacking quality, organisation, and depth proved too much for Jordan, who were overrun for large spells of the contest.

Argentina will now turn their attention to the knockout phase, where they enter as one of the favourites to go deep in the competition — buoyed by a captain producing record-breaking form at precisely the right moment.