Messi breaks World Cup scoring record as Argentina defeats Austria
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history with two goals against Austria.
- Argentina secured their second victory in the 2026 World Cup, defeating Austria 2-0.
- Messi acknowledged Spain as a favorite but expressed confidence in Argentina's own strength ahead of a potential future match.
Lionel Messi has set a new all-time scoring record in the World Cup, netting two goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in their second match of the 2026 tournament. The brace propelled the Albiceleste to their second consecutive win and cemented Messi's status as the competition's leading marksman.
Speaking after the match in Arlington, Texas, Messi acknowledged the strength of other teams in the tournament. "The Spanish national team has been demonstrating for a long time that it is one of the favorites, it has important players," he stated in the mixed zone of the AT&T Stadium.
However, Messi remained confident in Argentina's own capabilities. "But we will face them when we have to face them. The truth is that we are also doing well. We compete in every match, whatever the opponent, even if Spain is one of the favorites," he added, underscoring the team's determination to compete against any opponent.
Argentina's victory puts them in a strong position in their group, with Messi continuing to lead the line for his nation on the world stage. The team's performance and Messi's record-breaking achievement signal their intent to contend for the title.
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.