*His brace against Austria sends Argentina to Round of 32
Duro Ikhazuagbe with agency report
Argentina and Inter Miami forward, Lionel Messi, confirmed his position yesterday as football’s Greatest of All Times (GOAT) when his brace against Austria sent the Albicelesteinto the Round of 32 of the ongoing FIFA World Cup in North America.
The former Barcelona and PSG forward, who will turn 39 years old on Wednesday, scored his 17th and 18th goals at tournaments to move two clear of Germany striker Miroslav Klose, whose tally came between 2002 and 2014.
Messi’s milestone moment came in the 38th minute of the Group J encounter in Dallas, sweeping home a first-time finish from just inside the penalty area after Thiago Almada had cleverly let Facundo Medina’s pull-back go through his legs to tee up his team-mate.
The talismanic frontman’s second came in second-half stoppage time as he fired home from a tight angle past two Austrian defenders after Julian Alvarez had been denied by keeper Alexander Schlager.
However, Messi could have broken the record earlier in the match.
After only eight minutes, Argentina were awarded a penalty following Stefan Posch’s foul on Lautaro Martinez, with Austria defender Xaver Schlager also making a challenge, but Messi fired the spot-kick wide.
That disappointment soon turned to celebration, though, in another display of his class on a historic night.
He is now the top scorer in the 2026 competition, with five goals in two matches following a hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Algeria in their opening group game.
Messi has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, a feat only achieved by two other players – France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970. No player has ever scored in seven straight matches.
Before Messi’s second, Austria – managed by former Manchester United boss Ralf Rangnick – had a chance to make it 1-1.
But Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez pushed away a powerful free-kick from Marcel Sabitzer, who was making his 100th international appearance.
Argentina, with six points, now join Mexico, the United States and Germany in having qualified for the last 32, and they will be confirmed as Group J winners if Jordan do not beat Algeria in the later game early hours of Tuesday.
Having beaten Jordan in their opener, Austria still remain in contention on three points.
RESULTS
Monday, June 22)
Group G: New Zealand 1-3 Egypt
Group J: Argentina 2-0 Austria
*Group I: France 3-0 Iraq
Group I: Norway vs. Senegal (New Jersey)
Group J: Jordan vs. Algeria (Santa Clara, Calif.)
TODAY
Tuesday, June 23:
Group K: Portugal vs. Uzbekistan (Houston)
Group L: England vs. Ghana (Foxborough, Mass.)
Group L: Panama vs. Croatia (Toronto),
Group K: Colombia vs. DR Congo (Mexico)
