World Cup 2026 Argentina Beat Austria 2-0 as Messi Breaks Record

ARGENTINA · WORLD CUP

He missed a penalty, then made history anyway: Lionel Messi is now the leading goalscorer the men’s World Cup has ever seen.

World Cup 2026 Argentina march on as Messi rewrites history

Argentina beat Austria 2-0 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas to seal their place in the round of 32. Both goals came from Lionel Messi, on a night that ended with him atop the World Cup record books.

The reigning champions controlled the contest from start to finish. Their captain, at 38, again proved the difference.

Argentina came into the game having already won their opener in style. A second straight victory has now booked their knockout place with a match to spare.

It was not a flawless display, but it was a ruthless one. Argentina took their chances and shut the game down.

Austria had arrived in Texas with their own hopes of progress after a solid start. They found Argentina a level above on the night.

Messi’s record-breaking brace

Messi opened the scoring in the 38th minute, finishing a low cross from Facundo Medina. The goal was his 17th at World Cups, moving him clear of Miroslav Klose’s long-standing mark of 16.

He added a second deep in stoppage time, tucking in the rebound after Julian Alvarez’s shot was blocked. That strike took him to 18 World Cup goals in total.

Earlier he had missed a penalty, awarded by the referee after a video review for a foul on Lautaro Martinez. The slip mattered little by the final whistle.

The opener was a classic Messi finish, all timing and precision rather than power. The second was pure persistence, the captain following in where others might have stopped.

The numbers behind the milestone

According to FIFA’s official match centre, Argentina out-shot Austria 12 to 6 and managed five efforts on target. The holders rarely looked troubled in front of more than 70,000 fans.

By The Rio Times’ count, five of Messi’s 18 World Cup goals have now come at this tournament alone. He struck a hat-trick against Algeria before this double, an extraordinary return for a player in his sixth World Cup.

The record he broke had stood since 2014, when Klose retired as the World Cup’s most prolific scorer. Messi has now pushed it beyond reach for the foreseeable future.

Klose needed four tournaments and 24 matches to reach his 16 goals for Germany. Messi has spread his 18 across six World Cups, a span of two decades at the top.

The milestone also lands in the same week that France’s Kylian Mbappe moved level with Klose on 16. For now, though, Messi stands alone at the summit.

Group J and what comes next

Victory leaves Argentina top of Group J with a perfect six points. They are the first side in the group to confirm their passage to the knockout rounds.

Topping the group would likely hand them a more favourable path in the last 32. That is the prize still on offer in their final fixture.

Austria, beaten for the first time, must now regroup for a decisive final match. Argentina close their group against Jordan on June 28.

In the group’s other game, Algeria beat Jordan 2-1 to keep their own hopes alive. That result set up a straight shootout between Austria and Algeria for second place.

Why it matters

This is, by Messi’s own admission, his final World Cup. Every goal now adds to a record that may define the tournament’s history for a generation.

For Argentina, the bigger picture is a title defence that is gathering momentum. With qualification secured, Lionel Scaloni can now manage his squad toward the knockouts.

A World Cup staged across North America has given Messi a vast stage for his farewell. Each appearance now carries the weight of a long goodbye.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the score in World Cup 2026 Argentina vs Austria?

Argentina won 2-0 in Dallas. Lionel Messi scored both goals, one in each half.

What record did Messi break?

He became the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history. His goals took him to 18, past Miroslav Klose’s 16.

Did Messi miss a penalty?

Yes, he missed a first-half penalty awarded after a video review. He recovered to score twice from open play.

Have Argentina qualified for the knockouts?

Yes. With two wins from two games, Argentina top Group J on six points and are through to the round of 32.

Who do Argentina play next?

Argentina face Jordan in their final group game on June 28. The result will decide their seeding for the knockout stage.