The 38-year-old maestro now stands alone atop the pantheon with 18 World Cup goals, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose. His heroics — two more goals that took his tournament tally to five — propelled Argentina to six points and early qualification for the knockout stages.
From Algeria Hat-Trick to Austria Glory
Fresh off a stunning hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 opener against Algeria, Messi delivered again on the brink of his 39th birthday. He opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a composed left-footed finish from the edge of the box, breaking the record outright after missing an early penalty.
With the game still tense, Messi struck again in the 90+5th minute, slotting home to seal the victory and spark jubilant celebrations. The Argentine captain has now scored all five of his team's goals at this World Cup.
Bold stat highlight: Messi boasts an astonishing 18 goal involvements (goals + assists) across his last 10 World Cup matches, a run of pure greatness that spans from the 2018 tournament through to today.
2026 World Cup
- Austria: ⚽️⚽️
- Algeria: ⚽️⚽️⚽️
2022
- France: ⚽️⚽️
- Croatia: ⚽️🅰️
- Netherlands: 🅰️⚽️
- Australia: ⚽️
- Poland: ❌
- Mexico: ⚽️🅰️
- Saudi Arabia: ⚽️
2018
- France: 🅰️🅰️
- Nigeria: ⚽️
Tactical Dominance and Team Effort
Lionel Scaloni’s side controlled the match with clinical efficiency, limiting Austria’s threats while creating high-quality chances. Emiliano Martínez kept a clean sheet, while teammates like Julián Álvarez and the midfield provided the platform for Messi’s magic.
Austria, despite a solid opening win over Jordan, struggled to contain the Argentine No. 10. Manager Ralf Rangnick’s high press was bypassed time and again by Messi’s vision and movement.
Messi was rightfully named Man of the Match, capping another unforgettable display. Post-game, he reflected humbly on the milestone: “It’s a team achievement. Records come with the group’s work.”
Group J Standings and What’s Next
- Argentina: 6 points (qualified)
- Austria: 3 points
- Algeria and others remain in contention, but La Albiceleste are flying high.
This victory underscores Argentina’s status as firm favourites to retain their crown. Messi’s journey — from tears of emotion after the Algeria hat-trick (linked to personal matters) to record-breaking glory — continues to captivate the world.
The GOAT keeps rewriting the script. Pure greatness. 🔥
Stay tuned for more 2026 FIFA World Cup coverage, including Argentina’s final group game and full knockout previews.