Lionel Messi made history by becoming the first player to score in seven consecutive World Cup matches as Argentina secured their place in the knockout stage with a perfect record. Argentina topped Group J, winning all three of their matches, and will face Cape Verde in the next round.
Messi, who came on as a second-half substitute, scored his record-extending 19th career World Cup goal in Arlington, Texas.
England also advanced to the knockout stage, defeating Panama 2-0 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Goals from Jude Bellingham and Harry Kane helped England clinch the top spot in Group L, setting up a last-32 match against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) in Atlanta on Wednesday.
England's victory was characterized by a solid performance, although it was described as a labored win.
The DR Congo made history by achieving their first-ever World Cup victory, defeating Uzbekistan 3-1 in Atlanta. This win allowed them to finish third in Group K and qualify as one of the best third-placed teams.
Yoane Wissa celebrated with teammates after the match, marking a significant milestone for the African underdogs, who are through to the knockout rounds for the first time.
Colombia topped Group K after holding Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal to a 0-0 draw in Miami. This result means that Portugal will face Croatia in the knockout stage, while Croatia's victory over Ghana eliminated Scotland from the tournament, extinguishing their hopes of advancing as one of the best third-placed teams.
Argentina's strong performance throughout the group stage positions them as a formidable contender in the tournament, especially after winning all their matches. Meanwhile, Austria and Algeria concluded their group-stage matches with a thrilling 3-3 draw, allowing both teams to advance to the round of 32.
The knockout rounds promise to deliver intense competition as teams vie for the championship.
