Lionel Messi made more World Cup history as his 80th-minute free-kick helped Argentina maintain their perfect Group J record with a 3-1 victory over Jordan at Dallas Stadium. 

Having already secured top spot in the group and a date with Cape Verde in the last 32, Messi started as a substitute, but was still able to make an impact off the bench.

Messi became the first player to score in seven World Cup appearances in a row, while also netting his sixth goal of the tournament to pull clear in the race for the Golden Boot. 

Nicolas Otamendi, wearing the captain's armband in place of Messi from the start, headed the game's first opportunity over the crossbar from Giovani Lo Celso's corner, with the latter opening the scoring in the 19th minute. 

After Lo Celso was fouled on the edge of the penalty area by Mohannad Abu Taha, the Real Betis midfielder dusted himself down and fired the resulting free-kick past Yazeed Abulaila and into the top-left corner on his World Cup debut.

Argentina's pressure continued, but Lautaro Martinez could only turn Nicolas Tagliafico's cross onto the woodwork before Abulaila did brilliantly to keep out Marcos Senesi on the rebound, but Lionel Scaloni's side were awarded a penalty for the incident. 

Nizar Al Rashdan's high boot caught new Tottenham defender Senesi on his head as he stooped down to make contact with the ball, and referee Istvan Kovacs awarded the spot-kick after a VAR review as Martinez sent Abulaila the wrong way from 12 yards out.

Otamendi and Julian Alvarez both came close to increasing Argentina's advantage before the break and Martinez struck the crossbar again early in the second half, but as Messi was preparing to enter the action, Jordan halved the deficit when substitute Mousa Al Tamari turned in Ehsan Haddad's inch-perfect delivery. 

However, the result was sealed with another moment of individual brilliance from Messi. After skipping past Amer Jamous and winning a free-kick, the Argentina number 10 curled the set-piece around the Jordan wall and into the net for his record-extending 19th World Cup goal. 

Martinez ends World Cup drought while Lo Celso enjoys dream debut

Scaloni confirmed ahead of kick-off that Messi, who had scored five goals in Argentina's opening two matches at the World Cup, would start on the bench against Jordan, and both Martinez and Lo Celso stepped up in his absence. 

Lo Celso got the ball rolling with a stunning strike, becoming the first Argentina player to score on his World Cup debut since Martin Palermo against Greece in 2010, while also becoming the second Argentine player to score a direct free-kick at the World Cup in the 21st century, after Messi against Nigeria 12 years ago. 

Martinez, meanwhile, netted his first World Cup goal in what was his ninth appearance in the competition and with his 17th shot. It was his 38th goal for Argentina, making him the nation's fourth-highest goalscorer.

But Messi, of course, had to have his say. After celebrating his 39th birthday earlier this week, he is only the second Argentinean to play in a World Cup match aged 39, after Angel Labruna in 1958 (two games). 

His brilliant finish also saw Argentina become the fourth team since 1966 to score multiple direct free-kick goals in a World Cup match after Japan (vs. Denmark in 2010), Yugoslavia (vs. Congo DR in 1974) and Brazil (vs. Bulgaria in 1966).

But after being given a scare by Jordan, Argentina were deserved victors here. They finished with an expected goals (xG) total of 2.13 from their 12 shots to their opponents tally of 0.74 from their five attempts.