Argentina’s ahead #10 Lionel Messi waves as he leaves the pitch after successful the 2026 World Cup Group J soccer match between Argentina and Austria on the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on June 22, 2026. — AFPÂ
ARLINGTON: Lionel Messi set the all-time World Cup objectives report within the thirty eighth minute and scored one other close to the ultimate whistle to assist Argentina ease previous Austria 2-0 in Arlington, Texas, on Monday afternoon.
Monday’s win clinches a spot within the spherical of 32 for Argentina, which might earn first place in Group J if Algeria defeats Jordan or the match leads to a tie.
Messi wasted little time making up for a missed penalty kick within the opening minutes of the match.
He eclipsed the report for profession objectives within the males’s World Cup held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16) with a one-touch punch along with his left foot and put one other within the web on a highlight-reel effort as the ultimate seconds ticked off the clock.
Within the fifth minute of added time within the second half, Messi bought a rebound of his personal missed shot in entrance of the purpose and located a seam by way of a cluster of Austrian defenders for the rating simply inside the appropriate publish.
Messi, who recorded a hat trick in Argentina’s World Cup opening win over Algeria, performed all 90 minutes Monday. He missed a penalty kick attempt following a video overview of a foul by Austria within the penalty space. Officers decided Lautaro Martinez had been fouled and awarded Argentina the penalty attempt. Messi pulled the penalty attempt vast proper of the web.
The 18th purpose of his World Cup profession additionally moved Messi previous Girls’s World Cup chief Marta of Brazil. She has scored 17 in her six World Cup appearances.
Austria was unable to mount a lot offence and did not have a transparent shot on purpose within the first half.
