Argentina captain Lionel Messi delivered another historic performance as the South American giants secured a 2-0 victory over Austria in their latest 2026 FIFA World Cup outing.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner endured an early setback when he failed to convert a penalty in the ninth minute, raising hopes for Austria of containing the Argentine talisman.
However, Messi responded in emphatic fashion, breaking the deadlock in the 38th minute with a superb strike before sealing the victory with another brilliant goal deep into stoppage time in the 90+5th minute.
The brace not only guided Argentina to a crucial win but also propelled Messi to the top of the scoring charts at the ongoing tournament with five goals.
More significantly, the Argentine legend etched his name deeper into football history by taking his World Cup tally to 17 goals, surpassing the long-standing record previously held by Miroslav Klose.
Despite the missed penalty, Messi’s match-winning display once again underlined his importance to Argentina’s World Cup ambitions as the reigning champions continue their quest for another global title.
The victory strengthens Argentina’s position in Group J, while Messi’s record-breaking night is set to be remembered as one of the defining moments of the 2026 World Cup.