Lionel Messi Leads Argentina to Victory, Sets New World Cup Records

Argentina Triumphs Over Austria

Lionel Messi celebrated Argentina's second win at the FIFA World Cup 2026, guiding the defending champions to a 2-0 victory against Austria on June 22 (local time). He described the win as 'a little step further' in their tournament journey.

This victory ensured Argentina's advancement to the last 32 of the World Cup, maintaining their flawless start. Previously, they had triumphed over Algeria with a 3-0 scoreline, thanks to a hat-trick from Messi.

Messi's Historic Achievement

Following the match, Messi took to Instagram to share images and express his contentment with the team's performance. He stated, 'Another victory in a complicated match, which serves us to take a little step further.'

In this match, Messi made history by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in men's World Cup history, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose. He scored his first goal in the 38th minute, breaking Klose's record of 16 goals, and added another in stoppage time, bringing his total to 18 goals.

Additionally, Messi became only the second player in men's FIFA World Cup history to score four or more goals in three different tournaments (2014, 2022, and 2026), a feat previously achieved by Klose.

Match Highlights: Argentina vs Austria

In the match, Messi had a challenging start, missing a penalty in the sixth minute after a VAR-awarded spot kick. Austria responded with aggressive pressing, challenging the defending champions throughout the first half.

Messi broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, finishing calmly into the bottom corner after a clever dummy from Thiago Almada. Despite Austria's efforts to equalize in the second half, Argentina managed the game effectively with strategic substitutions from coach Lionel Scaloni.

As Austria pushed for a goal, Argentina countered effectively, with Messi sealing the victory in the 95th minute, completing his brace.

Milestones Achieved

At 38 years old, Messi has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, equaling the all-time record held by France's Just Fontaine and Brazil's Jairzinho.

This win places Argentina at the top of Group J with six points from two matches, securing their spot in the last 32.