Give him half an hour and he will leave a mark that lasts for ever. Lionel Messi’s arrival from the bench had preoccupied the overwhelming majority of those under this vast roof, to the extent that the play before it felt almost self-consciously like a prelude. There was no risk, no edge, to an encounter between two sides who knew their fates so why not bask in seeing a little more history being made?
Messi knew better than to disappoint. He had been wayward with a free-kick after coming on but, when he won a second 22 yards from goal, the outcome seemed predestined. A whip around the wall, an inordinate amount of bend that saw the ball finish in an almost central position, and the Jordan keeper Yazeed Abulaila could only look on. A sixth goal in three games; a 19th in World Cup football; a first since turning 39. Keep track of the milestones and then get ready for more, because Messi just keeps them coming.
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