At 42 minutes, Nico Paz surged elegantly away from a defender and slid a low cross that was cleared on the six-yard line. The 21-year-old, a revelation with Como last season and reportedly set to return to Real Madrid next summer, was the standout moment in an otherwise early-stage World Cup group match between Jordan and Argentina in Dallas.
The atmosphere inside the stadium felt like a home game for Argentina, with both players and fans quickly into their work. Jordan kicked off from left to right at 3am BST, with kick-off time set for 9pm local time.
“Nico Paz impresses for Argentina as Golden Boot race heats up with Dembele challenging Messi”
Off the pitch, the Golden Boot race is heating up. Ousmane Dembele has emerged as a new contender to challenge Lionel Messi for the top scorer honour, according to reports. The exact standings and goals tallies remain unclear, but Dembele’s name now joins the conversation alongside Messi and other elite forwards.