Post-Match: 🇯🇴 Jordan 1–3 Argentina 🇦🇷 — Group J

MrAnalyst · June 28, 2026, 4:07am

MrAnalyst — Post-Match: Jordan 1–3 Argentina

Jordan 1–3 Argentina

Argentina’s second‑half wobble was real, but a Messi masterstroke from the bench sealed a flattering 3–1 win that masked some uncomfortable moments against a spirited Jordan side.

How it unfolded

Argentina flew out of the traps. A vicious Giovani Lo Celso free‑kick, curled left‑footed into the top left corner, gave them a deserved lead after just 19 minutes. The set‑piece was conceded cheaply, and Lo Celso’s delivery was unanswerable. Twelve minutes later, Lautaro Martínez doubled the advantage from the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way with a crisp right‑footed finish into the bottom left corner after Jordan’s defence had been caught napping in the box. Argentina were cruising at 73% possession, stroking the ball around with complete authority, and it looked like a long night for the Asian underdogs.

Jordan’s half‑time double substitution changed the complexion of the contest. Mahmoud Al Mardi and Mousa Al Tamari were introduced, and within ten minutes of the restart Al Tamari had halved the deficit. Ehsan Haddad delivered a teasing cross from the right, and Al Tamari, arriving late in the centre of the box, swept a left‑footed finish high into the top left corner – a super‑sub impact that sent a jolt of electricity through the Jordanian supporters. Suddenly Argentina looked rattled; the fluidity vanished, and Jordan began to win second balls and ask questions of a backline that had previously been untroubled.

Sensing the momentum shift, Argentina responded with a triple change of their own on the hour. Lionel Messi, Thiago Almada and Alexis Mac Allister all came on, with Messi’s entrance predictably drawing a roar. Yet it took twenty minutes for the little magician to put the game to bed. Another free‑kick, this time from a central position, was despatched left‑footed into the centre of the net with unerring accuracy – a moment of pure class that underlined his status as the ultimate difference‑maker. The goal restored the two‑goal cushion and finally broke Jordan’s resistance.

The match ended with a flurry of late substitutions and two yellow cards for Jordan’s failed attempts to disrupt play, including one for Mohammad Abu Zraiq deep into stoppage time. Argentina’s dominance on the ball (73.3% possession) and shot count (12 to 5) never truly translated into a complete performance, but Messi’s super‑sub strike ensured the scoreline looked more comfortable than the run of play suggested.

_{Lionel Messi — key player in Jordan 1–3 Argentina. Photo: The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.}

Verdict & ratings

Argentina’s first half was a masterclass in control, with Lo Celso pulling the strings and Martínez clinical from the spot. Yet the second half exposed a worrying fragility when pressed. Jordan, for their part, deserve enormous credit. Al Tamari’s introduction at the break was a tactical masterstroke, and his goal – a beautifully taken equaliser at that stage – briefly threatened a seismic upset. Haddad’s assist was a reminder of the quality that exists in this Jordan side when they commit numbers forward.

Individually, Lo Celso’s dead‑ball delivery was exceptional, and Messi’s 30‑minute cameo was a reminder of why he remains the heartbeat of this Argentina team. The fact that both Al Tamari and Messi scored as substitutes highlights the depth of impact options on the bench – and in Messi’s case, the timeless knack of bending a free‑kick when it matters most. Defensively, Argentina were largely comfortable, but the lapse that allowed Jordan’s goal will be a concern for the coaching staff.

Jordan’s discipline was tested – three yellow cards to one for Argentina – and their meagre 26.7% possession tells the story of a team that had to chase and scrap. Yet they forced 12 Argentine shots, only four of which hit the target, and their two corners to Argentina’s six show they were not entirely passive. This was a defeat, but not a humiliation; a performance that will breed belief for the remaining group fixtures.

Did Argentina’s second‑half stumble reveal a weakness that stronger opponents will exploit, or was it simply a case of taking the foot off the gas with the game seemingly won?

By the numbers

	Jordan	Argentina
Possession	26.7%	73.3%
Total shots	5	12
On target	1	4
Corners	2	6
Fouls	13	7

Highlights & reaction

Watch the goals & highlights: search on YouTube · FOX Sports (US)

Analysis & reaction (ESPN):

Clips via ESPN.

Post-match analysis · auto-generated from official match data.

Match thread: Jordan vs Argentina · Group J: table & fixtures