Messi Breaks World Cup Scoring Record as Argentina Beats Austria 2–0

The star in Dallas today wasn’t on a Cowboys helmet.

Lionel Messi’s goal in the 38th minute and then another in second-half stoppage time on June 22 put his Argentina team atop Group J with a 2–0 win over Austria, securing a place in the knockout phase of the World Cup.

The buildup to the first goal was as impressive as the finish. A long diagonal kick was played out of the back to the middle of the pitch, and then a pass played to Facundo Medina on the left wing opened up more space for the Argentine attack.

Medina passed to Thiago Almada, but instead of shooting, Almada allowed the ball to pass through his legs. Messi, who delayed his run into the penalty box to evade close-marking defenders, hit a one-timer with his left foot past Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

Dallas Stadium, where the crowd overwhelmingly supported Argentina over Austria, erupted. Messi missed a penalty kick earlier in the match, making an unusually slow run before the shot and placing the ball wide right of the goal. The penalty had been awarded following an Austrian sliding challenge on Argentine forward Lautaro Martínez.

Messi’s second goal came in stoppage time, around the 93-minute mark. He led a counterattack, sprinting down the right flank as Austria struggled to get enough players back to defend.

A series of shots from other Argentine players were blocked before Messi collected a loose ball, backheeled it to his left, and fired a quick, low shot that was also blocked. But he pounced on the rebound and slotted it past Schlager at close range.

Just before the final whistle, Messi attempted his second hat-trick in as many matches, but his free kick from about 23 yards out landed just wide to the left of Austria’s goal.

The records keep coming for the man hailed as the world’s greatest player, if not the greatest of all time.

Messi, who turns 39 this week, scored his first World Cup hat-trick last week in Argentina’s 3–0 victory over Algeria.

Going into this tournament, he was tied with German legend Miroslav Klose with 16 all-time World Cup goals. His first goal netted him the sole top honor.

Messi won a World Cup with Argentina the last time around, in 2022. He has also won Champions League titles with former club team Barcelona, and he won the Major League Soccer cup last year with his current club team, Inter Miami CF.

Messi also won eight Ballon d’Or awards for the best performer in European League club soccer. In prior World Cups, he received the Golden Ball award for best overall performance in 2014 and 2022.

The only World Cup award that has eluded Messi so far is the Golden Boot for most goals in the tournament, but so far, he leads the 2026 competition with five goals.

“This was a very important and tough victory, and it reassures us for what comes next,” Messi said to a FIFA interpreter after the game. “I had a penalty I could have scored. … You never know, but I’m happy about the result because of our participation and the teamwork.”

Argentina Coach Lionel Scaloni commended Messi’s determination and tireless effort on both ends of the pitch, calling him an “alien” who is difficult to describe.

“He worked, he managed to steal the ball,” he said through an interpreter during the post-game press conference. “He has commitment.”

Austria’s best chance came on a free kick in the final minutes. Kevin Danso found Patrick Wimmer’s head, but the ball landed wide right.

Austria Coach Ralf Rangnick said he was satisfied with the overall performance of his team. He said he believes Argentina’s first goal should have been disallowed because of a foul at midfield, where an Austrian player was dispossessed by a clumsy challenge. The second goal, he said, was due to a breakdown by Austria’s midfield.

“We were brave and courageous,” Rangnick said to a FIFA interpreter in the post-game press conference. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to nullify every counterattack.”

As for Messi, he said: “Someone who is 39 years old and can score two goals, well, that makes a difference. We know he’s on a level of his own.”

Argentina, with six points now, finishes group play against Jordan. Austria, which beat Jordan 3–1, sits in second place in the group and wraps up against Algeria. Both games will be on June 27.

This match coincided with the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal in the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. The striker, who was also regarded as the world’s best player at the time, beat England with a jumping header. Replay footage later revealed that the ball also touched Maradona’s hand and should have been disallowed, but the video-assisted referee system was not available in that era.

Maradona later credited the game-winning goal to “the hand of God.”