Argentina’s defence of their World Cup crown gathered pace in Dallas as Lionel Messi delivered another historic performance, scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Austria to send the reigning champions into the knockout stage.
On a night filled with expectation, the 39-year-old once again proved why football continues to revolve around him. After missing an early penalty, Messi responded in the only way great players can, by taking control of the occasion and rewriting the record books.
The breakthrough arrived in the 38th minute. A clever dummy from Thiago Almada opened a path for Messi, who swept a first-time finish into the bottom corner with trademark precision. The roar from the crowd reflected the significance of the moment. Goal number 17 moved him past Germany legend Miroslav Klose as the highest scorer in FIFA World Cup history.
If there was any doubt about the result, Messi removed it deep into stoppage time. After Austria failed to clear their lines, the Argentine captain reacted quickest to fire home his second goal of the night and his 18th on football’s biggest stage.
The remarkable aspect of the performance was how Messi recovered from an uncharacteristic setback. Just nine minutes into the match, he dragged a penalty wide after Lautaro Martínez won a spot-kick. Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager celebrated wildly, but the missed opportunity only seemed to sharpen Messi’s focus.
Argentina dominated possession and territory throughout. Almada, Enzo Fernández and Martínez combined fluently around their captain, while Lionel Scaloni’s side once again looked exceptionally organised without the ball.
Austria rarely threatened. Marcel Sabitzer forced Emiliano Martínez into a routine save from a free-kick, while Michael Gregoritsch headed off target. Beyond those moments, Argentina’s defence remained in complete control.
The result keeps Argentina top of Group J and extends an impressive World Cup run. Since their shock defeat to Saudi Arabia in 2022, they have gone eight World Cup matches unbeaten, winning six and drawing two.
Messi’s latest display also strengthened his grip on the Golden Boot race with five goals in the tournament. The battle with France star Kylian Mbappé remains one of the tournament’s most fascinating storylines.
For now, however, this belonged to Messi alone. The missed penalty will quickly fade from memory. The records, the goals and another Argentina victory will not.
