Messi breaks World Cup scoring record as Argentina advances

Lionel Messi has etched his name further into football history, scoring twice to lead Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria and secure their place in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32. The star forward's brace brought his World Cup total to 17 and 18 goals, making him the all-time leading scorer in the tournament's history.

Messi, who had equaled Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals with a hat-trick in the previous match against Algeria, broke the German legend's record with his first goal in the 38th minute. He added a second goal in second-half stoppage time, sealing the win for the defending champions.

Argentina, the reigning champions from the 2022 Qatar World Cup, have started their qualifying campaign strongly with two consecutive wins, accumulating six points. This victory guarantees their progression to the next stage of the competition.

Despite a strong effort, Austria was unable to overcome Messi's brilliance. They had opportunities, including shots from Marcel Sabitzer early in the second half, but could not find the back of the net. Argentina's defense held firm, and tactical substitutions bolstered their control of the game.

Messi had an early chance to score from the penalty spot in the ninth minute, but his shot went wide. However, he made amends later in the match, first with his record-breaking goal and then with his second strike. He nearly completed a hat-trick with a late free-kick that narrowly missed the target.