Lionel Messi etched his name into football history on Monday, scoring twice as defending champions Argentina beat Austria 2-0 at AT&T Stadium to s
Lionel Messi etched his name into football history on Monday, scoring twice as defending champions Argentina beat Austria 2-0 at AT&T Stadium to seal their place in the World Cup knockout stages.
The 38-year-old’s brace took his career World Cup tally to 18 goals, moving him past Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history.
He had earlier missed a ninth-minute penalty, sending his spot-kick wide, but recovered superbly to write his name into the record books before the night was out.
Messi broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, latching onto a low cutback from Thiago Almada and finishing first-time with his left foot to put Argentina ahead. The goal also moved him level with, then past, Klose’s long-standing record of 16 goals.
Austria, appearing at the World Cup for the first time since 1998 and chasing a first knockout-stage appearance since 1954, had earlier shown promise in their opening win over Jordan, but could not find the same threat against Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Ralf Rangnick’s men managed only one effort on target all game, a Marcel Sabitzer free-kick that Emiliano Martínez parried away, while Michael Gregoritsch headed wide from a late chance.
The game became increasingly stretched in the second half as Argentina pressed for a second to settle any lingering nerves.
That goal arrived deep into stoppage time, in the 95th minute, when Enzo Fernández found Messi in the box following a goalmouth scramble sparked by a save from substitute Julián Álvarez’s effort.
Messi’s first attempt was blocked, but he reacted quickest to bury the rebound into the corner.
The win moves Argentina to six points from two games in Group J, with a goal difference of plus-five, all but confirming top spot in the group ahead of their final fixture against Jordan.
Topping the group would see them face the Group H runner-up in Miami on July 3 — a draw that, as things stand, would help them avoid Spain in the last 32.
Messi now leads the race for the Golden Boot with five goals in the tournament so far, having also scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in their opener. He also became only the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive tournament appearances, joining France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.
Speaking after the match, teammate Julián Álvarez said there was little left to say about his captain’s brilliance, while Lisandro Martínez called him a class above everyone else. For Austria, forward Michael Gregoritsch admitted the late second goal stung in terms of goal difference, but said his side’s focus now turns to their must-win final group game against Algeria.
Argentina remain unbeaten in eight straight World Cup matches stretching back to their opening defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022.
It remains unknown whether Lionel Scaloni will rest Messi against lowly Jordan, where fans expect the king to increase his goals at the World Cup.
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