Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in their Group J match in Dallas, officially securing their place in the World Cup knockout stages. The victory pushes Argentina into the next round while permanently altering the tournament’s history books.
Key Details
- Messi found the net in the 38th minute and deep into stoppage time (90′).
- Argentina will now travel to Miami to play the Group H runners-up on July 3.
- The brace makes Messi the first new all-time top goalscorer crowned at the World Cup since 2014.
The defining moment arrived as the Argentine captain surpassed Miroslav Klose’s record with a double against Austria. Klose had held the all-time scoring benchmark since passing Ronaldo during the 2014 tournament in Brazil. Messi’s two goals ensure his career World Cup tally now stands entirely alone at the top.
Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick praised the opposition after the final whistle. Rangnick stated that Messi is “the greatest player of all time” and acknowledged that he “makes a huge difference.” The Austrian side could not contain him across the 90 minutes.
Argentina advances to the knockout phase with their momentum intact. They await the final results of Group H to determine their specific opponent for the upcoming July 3 fixture in Miami.