World Cup: Messi’s brace powers Argentina into knockout phase

Lionel Messi propelled Argentina into the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage with a decisive brace against Austria on Monday, clinching a 2-0 victory in a hard-fought Group J encounter. The match took place at Dallas Stadium in Dallas, United States.

Argentina dominated possession from the outset, creating numerous scoring chances against a disciplined Austrian defense. Captain Lionel Messi was the central figure in their attack. Argentina had an early opportunity to lead via a penalty, but Messi's initial effort was saved by the Austrian goalkeeper. This miss momentarily boosted Austria's morale as they sought to contain the Argentine offense.

Despite the setback, Argentina persisted, and Messi redeemed himself in the 38th minute. Receiving a well-timed pass from Facundo Medina, Messi found the net, giving Argentina a deserved 1-0 lead at halftime. This goal marked a significant milestone, making Messi the all-time highest goal scorer at the World Cup with 17 goals at that point.

In the second half, Austria displayed resilience, defending stoutly and launching occasional counterattacks. However, Argentina's defense remained organized, preventing clear scoring opportunities. As the game wore on, Argentina controlled the midfield, limiting Austria's sustained pressure. Just as Austria seemed poised to keep the scoreline respectable, Messi struck again in stoppage time. In the 90+5th minute, the Argentine captain calmly finished another attacking sequence, scoring his second goal of the night and sealing the 2-0 victory. This second goal brought his overall World Cup tally to 18.

The match was characterized by physical play, resulting in several yellow cards for both teams. Austria's Kevin Danso and Argentina's Rodrigo De Paul were cautioned for challenges. Messi's stellar performance and two goals were pivotal in securing Argentina's advancement, while Austria must now secure a positive result in their remaining matches to keep their World Cup aspirations alive.