Lionel Messi scored twice and shattered the FIFA World Cup all time scoring record as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Dallas….reports London Daily News Desk
Lionel Messi delivered another landmark performance on the global stage, scoring both goals as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 to secure qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout rounds.
Just two days before his 39th birthday, the Argentina captain overcame an early penalty miss to produce a match winning display that further cemented his place in World Cup history.
Messi opened the scoring in the 38th minute before sealing victory deep into stoppage time as Argentina claimed their second consecutive Group J win and booked a place in the Round of 32.
The evening belonged to the Argentine superstar, who broke the all time World Cup scoring record with his first goal. His strike took him to 17 goals in the tournament, moving him ahead of former Germany striker Miroslav Klose and making him the highest scorer in World Cup history.
Messi then extended that record with a second goal in the fifth minute of added time, taking his overall World Cup tally to 18 and his total for the 2026 tournament to five.
The veteran forward also joined France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho as only the third player to score in six consecutive World Cup matches.
Argentina dominated the early stages but were unable to capitalise when Messi missed a penalty. The setback allowed Austria to grow into the contest and enjoy a spell of control, pressing aggressively and disrupting Argentina’s rhythm.
Despite Austria’s improved performance, they struggled to create clear scoring opportunities and failed to convert possession into meaningful chances.
Argentina eventually regained control through the creativity of Messi and Thiago Almada. The pair combined brilliantly in the 38th minute, with Almada returning the ball to Messi, who fired a precise finish beyond goalkeeper Alexander Schlager to give the defending champions the lead.
Austria remained competitive after the break and continued to test Argentina’s defence, but Lionel Scaloni’s side gradually tightened their grip on the match.
As Austria pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Argentina found space on the counter attack. Messi made sure of the result in stoppage time, pouncing on an opportunity to score his second goal of the night and complete a memorable victory.
The win guarantees Argentina’s progression to the knockout phase and strengthens their status as one of the leading contenders to retain the World Cup crown.
For Messi, it was another historic night in a career filled with records, as he moved clear at the top of the tournament’s all time scoring charts while continuing his pursuit of a second consecutive World Cup title.
