By Dwayne Ferreira.
Messi breaks the World Cup scoring record with two goals as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 and qualify for the round of 32 with a game to spare.
Lionel Messi broke the men’s World Cup scoring record as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Group J and secured their place in the round of 32 with a match to spare.
Both teams entered the contest at Dallas Stadium with three points. Argentina had opened their title defence by beating Algeria 3-0 through a Messi hat-trick, while Austria marked their return to the tournament with a 3-1 victory over Jordan. A second win would therefore guarantee progression for either side.
Argentina were handed an early opportunity when Lautaro Martínez was caught between two defenders inside the penalty area. Referee Amin Mohamed awarded the spot kick following a VAR review, but Messi dragged his ninth-minute effort wide of Alexander Schlager’s right post.
Austria defended compactly and captain David Alaba twice intervened when Messi threatened to break through. He stole the ball from the Argentina captain in the 19th minute and later blocked another goalbound attempt with Schlager out of position. Austria, however, failed to register a shot on target before the interval.
The breakthrough arrived in the 38th minute. Facundo Medina passed forward, Thiago Almada allowed the ball to run across him and Messi struck first time with his left foot, wrong-footing Schlager and moving beyond Miroslav Klose’s previous World Cup record of 16 goals.
Ralf Rangnick’s side became more adventurous after the restart and enjoyed longer periods of possession, but Argentina’s defensive structure denied them clear openings. Emiliano Martínez was rarely extended, although Patrick Wimmer headed narrowly wide from Kevin Danso’s knockdown during second-half stoppage time.
Messi settled the match in the 95th minute. Schlager blocked his initial effort during a crowded penalty-area sequence, but the forward stayed with the move and drove the rebound through a line of defenders to complete his second consecutive multi-goal performance of the tournament.
The brace lifted Messi to 18 World Cup goals and five at the 2026 finals, with every Argentina goal at the tournament having come from their captain. He also joined Just Fontaine and Jairzinho among the players to score in six consecutive World Cup matches, while extending his national appearance record on his 201st cap.
Austria’s disciplined display kept the contest close for most of the evening, but their limited threat in the final third left them dependent on protecting a one-goal deficit. Rangnick’s team remain on three points and retain a direct route into the knockout stage if they beat Algeria in their final group match.
Argentina moved to six points and can approach their last Group J fixture with qualification already secured. Lionel Scaloni’s holders return to the same Arlington venue to face Jordan on June 27, while Austria meet Algeria in Kansas City on the same day with their tournament future at stake.
MATCH SUMMARY
Argentina – 2
Lionel Messi 38’, 90+5’
Austria – 0
Result: Argentina won 2-0
Player of the Match: Lionel Messi
Competition: FIFA World Cup 2026, Group J
Venue: Dallas Stadium, Arlington, Texas
Date: June 22, 2026
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