Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 in their Group J clash at the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, securing the defending champions a place in the knockout stage.
Messi’s brace also saw him rewrite the record books. The Argentine captain became the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose. His opener took him past Klose’s tally of 16 goals, while his second of the night extended his World Cup total to 18. The star player has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, equalling the record jointly held by France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.
The 38-year-old endured a frustrating start after missing a sixth-minute penalty awarded following a VAR review. Austria responded with an energetic pressing game and troubled Argentina for much of the opening half.
