In Arlington, Argentina captain Lionel Messi etched his name into World Cup history by becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer. The 38-year-old forward netted twice in a 2-0 victory against Austria, helping the defending champions secure their place in the knockout rounds.
Messi opened the scoring in the 38th minute, marking his 17th World Cup goal and surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose to claim the record. He then sealed the win with an 18th goal deep into stoppage time, completing his brace and ensuring Argentina’s second consecutive victory in the group stage.
Reflecting on the match, Messi described the win as both crucial and hard-fought, emphasizing its importance for the team’s confidence moving forward. “This was a very important and tough victory. We worked very hard on it, and that reassures us for what’s coming next,” he said. He also noted the intensity of every World Cup game and expressed satisfaction with securing qualification with six points.
Messi’s first goal came after a precise pass from Facundo Medina, which he finished with a left-footed strike inside the penalty area. His second goal resulted from a quick counterattack, where he followed up on his own rebound five minutes into added time.
Earlier in the match, Argentina was awarded a penalty when Lautaro Martínez was fouled in the box, but Messi missed the spot-kick, sending it wide. He later joked that perhaps missing the penalty led to the subsequent goals, adding that his greatest joy was the team’s overall performance and unity.
This achievement adds another remarkable chapter to Messi’s World Cup career. He is now one of only two players, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, to have appeared in six World Cups. Impressively, 11 of his 18 World Cup goals have come after he turned 35.
Additionally, Messi’s opener against Austria saw him equal a World Cup record by scoring in six consecutive matches, joining the elite company of France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.
When asked to name his favorite World Cup goal, Messi admitted fatigue had caught up with him and he could not recall a specific moment. Instead, he expressed a desire to simply enjoy the occasion and celebrate with his teammates after another unforgettable night representing Argentina.
