Dallas, June 23 — Lionel Messi produced a trademark display, scoring twice as defending champions Argentina beat Austria 2-0 at the Dallas Stadium to secure progression to the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup 2026. Messi opened the scoring in the 38th minute to become the tournament’s all-time top scorer and then added a stoppage-time second (90+5) to seal the victory.
Messi first broke the World Cup scoring record with his 17th tournament goal in the 38th minute and then extended that mark with an 18th late on. He had earlier missed a penalty in the first half but shrugged it off to drive Argentina to a crucial Group J win. The performance also saw him join Just Fontaine and Jairzinho as players to score in six successive World Cup matches.
Argentina’s second Group J victory guaranteed their place in the round of 32; they could be confirmed as group winners if Jordan fail to beat Algeria later in the day. The result keeps the defending champions firmly on course in the tournament and highlights Messi’s continued influence on the biggest stage.
The match swung in momentum: Argentina started strongly and created early chances but were hampered by the missed penalty. Austria then pressed and controlled parts of the game, disrupting Argentina’s build-up without converting their superiority into goals. Argentina regained control when Messi linked with Thiago Almada — Almada’s clever return pass set up Messi’s 38th-minute finish that beat Austria keeper Alexander Schlager.
Messi’s late, opportunistic strike in added time compounded Austria’s frustration and ensured a memorable evening for the Argentine camp. The win underlined Argentina’s attacking intent and Messi’s knack for decisive moments, as the team prepares for the knockout phase.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/2026-fifa-wc-record-breaking-messi-helps-argentina-reach-knockouts-with-2-0-win-over-austria
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Publish Date: 2026-06-23 09:57:00
