Lionel Messi scored twice to become the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer with 18 goals, leading Argentina to a 2-0 win over Austria in Dallas on Sunday. The 38-year-old broke Miroslav Klose's previous record of 16 goals, scoring a first-half opener and a stoppage-time second to seal the victory.
Messi's Record-Breaking Performance
Messi opened the scoring in the 34th minute after Austria failed to clear a corner, firing home from close range. He added his second in the fourth minute of added time, calmly finishing after a cutback from Thiago Almada. The goal sparked wild celebrations, with Messi punching the air in recognition of the historic moment.
"It feels special, especially because it came with a victory," Messi said after the match. "To be the top scorer in World Cup history is something I never imagined. I'm grateful to my teammates for helping me achieve this."
Missed Penalty and Austrian Resistance
Argentina had earlier been awarded a penalty after a VAR review, but Messi scuffed his spot-kick wide of the left post. It was his third missed penalty in World Cup matches, a record he now holds outright. Despite the miss, Argentina remained dominant, with Austria's best chances coming from a Marcel Sabitzer free-kick that Emiliano Martínez saved and a Patrick Wimmer header that went wide.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick expressed frustration that a challenge by Alexis Mac Allister on Xaver Schlager in the buildup to Messi's opener was not reviewed. "It was a clear foul, but the referee didn't check it," Rangnick said. "In the end, we couldn't stop Messi."
Historical Context
The match took place 40 years to the day since Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal against England, adding to the symbolic weight of Messi's achievement. The venue, Dallas, also carried significance: it was where Maradona was expelled from the 1994 World Cup after a failed drug test. Messi's record-breaking performance seemed to exorcise some of those ghosts for Argentine football.
Argentina now leads Group J with six points, while Austria remains on three. Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, is the clear frontrunner for the Golden Boot with 18 goals, four ahead of second-place Klose.
