Lionel Messi scored twice to become the outright all-time leading scorer in World Cup finals tournaments, leading Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday at Dallas Stadium. The 38-year-old forward now has 18 World Cup goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16.
Missed Penalty and Early Struggles
Messi had the chance to claim the record early when Argentina were awarded a penalty in the 12th minute. However, his spot-kick sailed wide of the goal, a rare miss from the usually reliable marksman. The miss came amid off-field distractions, as Messi's father, Jorge, is reportedly dealing with a health issue. Last week, a false report of Jorge Messi's death led to a television reporter resigning in Argentina.
Despite the setback, Messi continued to press. In the 27th minute, a dazzling run into the box ended with a shot cleared off the line. Moments later, he was dispossessed. For much of the first half-hour, he drifted in and out of the action, as Austria played surprisingly assertively.
First Goal Breaks the Deadlock
In the 38th minute, Messi found his moment. Running into a pocket of space just outside the box, he connected with a perfectly executed dummy from Thiago Almada and smashed an inch-perfect finish into the net. The celebration was visceral—screaming as he ran to the corner flag, a stark contrast to the joy of his hat-trick the previous week.
According to Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, the team rallied around Messi. "We're good and we're ready for the game," Scaloni said at a pre-match press conference, pushing back against questions about Messi's father.
Second Goal Seals Victory
Messi's second goal came in second-half stoppage time. He played a perfect ball across to Julián Alvarez, whose effort was poor, but Messi ran onto the rebound and rounded the goalkeeper. His first shot was blocked by a sea of defenders, but he persisted, driving his second attempt home from close range as he fell to the ground.
The brace moved Messi past Klose, who had held the record since 2014. Messi had shared the record with Klose after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina's group-stage opener.
Support from Teammates and Fans
Messi's teammates have long shielded him like a national treasure. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez has said he would "die in goal" for his captain. Defender Nicolás Otamendi tattooed Messi's face on his body after winning the 2022 World Cup. Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul chose to transfer to Inter Miami to play alongside Messi as he closes his career.
Fans in Dallas chanted Messi's name hours before the match and screamed every time his image appeared on the jumbotron. Hundreds of flags bearing his likeness and the names of Argentinian provinces filled the stadium. The support was palpable throughout Messi's triumphs and failings alike.
