Messi Rewrites World Cup History with Brace

Lionel Messi delivered a historic performance as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 to secure their place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage. The match, played in Dallas, saw Messi rewrite numerous World Cup records.

Despite an early penalty miss, which itself set unwanted records for most attempts and misses, Messi scored in the 38th minute and again in stoppage time. His first goal moved him past Miroslav Klose's men's record of 16 World Cup goals, bringing his tally to 17. His second goal took his total to 18, surpassing Marta's combined men's and women's tournament record.

The victory also propelled Messi to become the player with the most wins in men's World Cup history, surpassing Klose. Furthermore, at nearly 39 years old, he became the oldest player to score two or more goals in a single World Cup match, having previously set the record for multiple goals at his age against Algeria.

Argentina's win guarantees their progression to the Round of 32 with one group game remaining. While Austria put up a fight, they lacked the necessary attacking prowess to overcome the defending champions. The match highlighted Messi's enduring impact and his ability to perform under immense historical pressure.