Lionel Messi produced another historic performance as Argentina defeated Austria 2–0 at Dallas Stadium, sealing qualification for the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The defending champions dominated large parts of the match and secured their second consecutive win of the tournament with a confident and controlled display.
Argentina control the match from the start
Argentina created several clear chances in the first half and kept Austria under constant pressure. Despite missing a penalty earlier in the game, the South American side remained composed.
Messi finally broke the deadlock in the 38th minute with a clinical finish, giving Argentina a deserved lead going into halftime.
Messi becomes top scorer in World Cup history
The goal proved historic. Messi moved past Miroslav Klose to become the leading goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history.
Messi had started the match level with Klose on 16 goals. His opener took him to 17, and he added another goal in stoppage time to raise his total to 18 goals in 28 World Cup appearances.
He had already scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, and his brace against Austria further strengthened his legacy on football’s biggest stage.
Most goals in FIFA World Cup history
- Lionel Messi of Argentina with 18 goals
- Miroslav Klose of Germany with 16 goals
- Ronaldo of Brazil with 15 goals
- Gerd Müller of West Germany with 14 goals
- Kylian Mbappe of France with 14 goals
- Just Fontaine of France with 13 goals
- Pelé of Brazil with 12 goals
Another milestone for the Argentina captain
At 38 years old, Messi also achieved another rare milestone by scoring in six consecutive World Cup matches. With this feat, he joined Just Fontaine and Jairzinho while becoming the first Argentine player to ever score in six straight World Cup games.
Consecutive scoring matches in World Cup history
- Just Fontaine of France with 6 matches
- Jairzinho of Brazil with 6 matches
- Lionel Messi of Argentina with 6 matches
- James Rodriguez of Colombia with 5 matches
- Gerd Müller of West Germany with 5 matches
Records keep falling for Messi
Messi’s record-breaking night did not end there. He also extended his lead for the most World Cup matches played by an individual player, the most World Cup wins with 18 victories, and the most minutes played in tournament history with 2,489 minutes.
Argentina march on as favorites
Argentina’s strong start has confirmed their status as one of the favorites to defend their title. With Messi in exceptional form, the team looks well-placed for a deep run in the tournament.
The win over Austria not only secured qualification but also delivered another unforgettable chapter in Lionel Messi’s legendary World Cup journey.
