The Season of the long ball: Why FIFA World Cup 2026 is producing the most goals from outside the box in WC history

In the 80th minute of Argentina's final group game against Jordan, Lionel Messi, 39 years old, probably playing his last World Cup, entered as a substitute. He received the ball just outside the penalty area, paused for a fraction of a second, and hit a free kick from the edge of the box so low and precise it split two defenders and curled into the left corner before Jordan's goalkeeper had finished computing its flight.

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