Lionel Messi Prepares for Argentina's Clash Against Austria in FIFA World Cup 2026

Messi Shares Training Moments Ahead of Key Match

Kansas City [US], June 22: Ahead of their upcoming Group-stage match against Austria in the FIFA World Cup 2026, Argentina's captain Lionel Messi took to Instagram to share snapshots from the team's training session.

The images showcased Messi alongside his teammates as they geared up for their second tournament encounter.

View the training session photos here.

This post follows Messi's remarkable performance in Argentina's opening match, where he led the defending champions to a decisive 3-0 victory over Algeria, scoring a hat-trick.

Messi initiated the scoring with a stunning long-range shot, then added another with a quick finish after a rebound. He completed his hat-trick in the 76th minute with a beautifully curled shot, securing the win for Argentina.

This hat-trick marked a historic moment for Messi, as it was his first in World Cup history, allowing him to tie with Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in men's World Cup history with 16 goals. This achievement came just days before Messi's 39th birthday and exactly 20 years after he netted his first World Cup goal in 2006.

Additionally, Messi's hat-trick allowed him to surpass football legends like Gerd Muller and Brazil's Ronaldo on the all-time World Cup scoring list.

Before the match, Messi had already made history by becoming the first player to participate in six World Cups.

In his 200th appearance for Argentina, Messi showcased his exceptional skills, creativity, and finishing ability, leading La Albiceleste to a convincing win.

Argentina's next challenge will be against Austria in Dallas on June 22 (local time), while Algeria is set to face Jordan in San Francisco.