Argentina got ready for the World Cup knockout stage with a 3-1 against Jordan in Dallas on Saturday night. The world champions came into the game having already qualified, and will face Cape Verde in Miami on July 3.Lionel Scaloni made nine changes to Argentina’s starting XI, dropping Lionel Messi to the bench. And one of those starters put Argentina ahead on 19 minutes — Giovani Lo Celso curling in a direct free-kick, helped by some questionable goalkeeping from Yazeed Abulaila. Lautaro Martínez then made it two just after the half an hour mark from the penalty spot.Jordan periodically threatened, and pulled a goal back 10 minutes into the second half via Mousa Tamari; Messi was duly introduced to proceedings shortly afterwards. He scored, of course, firing home a direct free-kick with 10 minutes remaining, becoming the first player in World Cup history to score in seven successive games. It’s his sixth goal at this tournament and his 19th World Cup goal overall. The records just keep on coming.Michael Cox and Patrick Iversen break down the key storylines from the game.Yet another landmark night for Lionel MessiLionel Scaloni had warned supporters that Lionel Messi would be rested for this final group game, although promised he would come on as a substitute.So for many supporters here in Dallas, much of the match was a guessing game about when he would be introduced. An hour in? You’d have won.Having replaced Martinez, after two minutes he seemed to be through on goal, but couldn’t gather a through-ball. Two minutes later he had a decent attempt from a free-kick which dipped, but not enough to take it under the bar. He spent long periods wandering in offside positions, before coming alive when the Jordan defence dropped back.10 minutes from time, it happened. Messi won a free-kick in classic Messi territory, and presumably having seen Jordan goalkeeper Yazeed Abulaila move bizarrely early towards his left-hand post for the earlier free-kick scored by Lo Celso, hoped the same would happen.It did. Messi’s free-kick almost trickled in. Six goals for the tournament, 19 in World Cups overall. This also means he’s now scored in seven straight World Cup matches across two tournaments, beating a record held by Just Fontaine and Jairzinho.Thousands of people here at Dallas tonight will be boasting to their friends, possibly for the rest of their lives, that they saw Messi score at a World Cup.Michael CoxDo Argentina have the perfect pathway to the semi-finals?Let’s be honest about the nature of this game. Argentina had qualified as group winners, while Jordan were already eliminated. There was nothing riding on this whatsoever.