Lionel Messi etched his name into football history by becoming the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer, netting twice as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Dallas to virtually secure top spot in Group J. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner now has 18 World Cup goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16.
Record-breaking moment arrives 40 years after Maradona's hand of God
Messi's historic strike came 40 years to the day after Diego Maradona's infamous 'Hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup. The Argentina captain opened the scoring seven minutes before halftime with a clinical left-footed finish after a cutback from Facundo Medina. He added a second in stoppage time, taking his tally to five goals in two matches this tournament.
The record-breaking goal was particularly poignant as it occurred in the same city where Maradona played his final World Cup match in 1994 before being suspended for doping. Messi's celebration—a roar and a punch of the air—underscored the significance of the moment.
Early penalty miss adds drama to historic night
The match began with unexpected drama when Messi missed a penalty in the fifth minute, awarded after a VAR review for a foul on Lautaro Martínez by Stefan Posch. The miss drew a gasp from the crowd, but Messi quickly recovered his composure. Austria, emboldened, pushed for an opener but were thwarted by Argentina's defense and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez.
Argentina dominated possession and created several chances before Messi's breakthrough. The goal came after Thiago Almada worked the ball to Medina on the left, whose cutback found Messi for a first-time finish past Alexander Schlager.
Austria competitive but ultimately outclassed
Austria, coached by Ralf Rangnick, showed resilience and created opportunities, particularly in the second half. Marcel Sabitzer forced a save from Emiliano Martínez with a free-kick, and Michael Gregoritsch headed over shortly before the hydration break. However, the Austrian attack lacked the cutting edge to trouble the defending champions seriously.
Argentina's defense, led by Cristian Romero and later Nicolás Otamendi, remained largely untroubled. The victory all but guarantees Argentina top spot in Group J with one match remaining.
Messi's golden boot quest continues
With five goals in two games, Messi is firmly in contention for the Golden Boot. The 38-year-old, who turns 39 on Wednesday, shows no signs of slowing down. His performance in Dallas further cemented his legacy as one of football's greatest players, adding the all-time World Cup scoring record to his collection of achievements.
