Magic Messi Makes World Cup History, Sends Argentina into Last 32

Lionel Messi etched his name further into World Cup lore on Monday, becoming the all-time leading scorer in the tournament's history as he netted twice to secure Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria. The brace propelled the defending champions into the last 32, showcasing Messi's enduring impact on the global stage.

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The player widely regarded as the greatest of all time pounced late in the first half in Texas with a trademark left-footed finish after neat build-up play.

The superstar forward, widely considered the greatest of all time, opened his account late in the first half with a signature left-footed strike following intricate build-up play. This goal, his 17th in total at the World Cup, allowed him to surpass Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16. Messi later sealed the match in injury time, demonstrating his predatory instincts by outmaneuvering four defenders in a scramble within the box.

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The 38-year-old then sealed the match deep in injury time after a scramble in the box, as he outfoxed four defenders who lined up to keep the ball out.

Despite his historic achievements in the match, the game wasn't without its challenges for Messi. He missed a penalty kick early on, a rare blemish on an otherwise stellar performance. This miss echoed previous penalty struggles in the 2022 and 2018 tournaments. Furthermore, Austrian captain David Alaba proved a formidable opponent, denying Messi clear scoring opportunities on two separate occasions before the record-breaking goal.

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For all his brilliance, Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, is surprisingly poor from the penalty spot by his standards.

The victory was crucial for Argentina, who, knowing a win would guarantee their progression, faced an Austrian side content to defend. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with a large, vocal pro-Argentina crowd urging their team on. Messi's emotional reaction after his first goal, later revealed to be linked to his father's health recovery, added a layer of personal significance to his historic achievement.

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Messi had equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time mark of 16 World Cup goals when hitting a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria in the holders’ opening game.