Argentina were utterly dominant from the first whistle at AT&T Stadium, deploying their trademark high-press and fluid positional game to suffocate a Jordan side that had no answer for the world champions' quality. Messi orchestrated everything from his false-nine/right-forward hybrid role, and his curling free-kick in the 18th minute — after Mac Allister had drawn the foul — set the tone. Jordan tried to sit deep in a 5-4-1 block, but Argentina's relentless recycling of possession and diagonal switches from De Paul and Mac Allister repeatedly opened pockets behind the Jordanian wing-backs. Álvarez's second-half header from De Paul's driven cross made it 2-0 just nine minutes after the restart, killing any lingering Jordanian hope. Lautaro Martínez, introduced in the 65th minute, needed only 13 minutes to add a third, latching onto a sublime Messi through-ball and slotting past Abulaila. Jordan's sole bright spark was Musa Al-Taamari, who carried the ball with energy and forced a sharp save from Emiliano Martínez with a dipping 25-yard effort. A comfortable, professional victory for Scaloni's side — full points and a +3 goal difference to open Group J.

• Argentina dominated 72% possession — Jordan barely touched the ball in the opening 20 minutes.
• Messi's 18th-minute free-kick was his 10th World Cup goal, curled over the wall with trademark precision.
• Julián Álvarez registered a goal and nearly a second, combining 7 times with De Paul in the final third.
• Jordan's xG of 0.41 came almost entirely from a single Musa Al-Taamari long-range effort in the 67th minute.
• Emiliano Martínez was barely tested — his one save of the match came from a deflected Odeh Al-Fakhouri shot.
• Argentina's high press won the ball in Jordan's half 14 times, generating 6 of their 19 shots.