Argentina v Austria - World Cup result as Lionel Messi brace breaks goalscoring record in 2-0 victory

World Cup / Group Stage
AT&T Stadium / 22.06.2026
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    20:12
    20:12
    THAT IS ALL FOR NOW
    Thanks very much for joining us to see history being made.
    We will be back in about an hour for coverage of the France vs Iraq clash.
    20:11
    20:11
    MESSI STEALS SHOW IN ARGENTINA WIN
    Lionel Messi’s brace made him the top scorer in World Cup history, as he helped Argentina to a 2-0 victory over a disappointing Austria in Dallas.
    The defending champions looked set to take an early lead when VAR intervened to award a controversial penalty for a foul on Lautaro Martinez, but Messi surprisingly dragged his spot-kick wide.
    The forward made no mistake next time an opportunity came his way through, stroking into the bottom corner after arriving late into the area, firing his side into a 1-0 lead and making history in the process.
    Austria struggled to muster up much of a response, although Marcel Sabitzer did come close with a swinging 20-yard free-kick that Emi Martinez palmed to safety after the break.
    At the other end, Nico Gonzalez sent a flicked header wide, while there was a late chance for Ralf Rangnick’s men, only for Patrick Wimmer to nod wide.
    That left the door open for a Messi sucker-punch, as, after Julian Alvarez's strike had been superbly saved, the forward fired home the rebound to book Argentina their spot in the last 32, whereas their opponents need to beat Algeria in their final group game to guarantee progression.

    20:09
    20:09
    WHAT TO WATCH ON TNT SPORTS AND HBO MAX

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    20:09
    20:09
    MESSI MAKING HISTORY
    In case you missed it, here is the full story on the record Messi has broken.
    The question is how long he will keep hold of it, though? Kylian Mbappe is not far behind.

    20:07
    20:07
    LATER ON
    That Jordan v Algeria game kicks off at 04:00 UK time on Tuesday morning.
    Before then, it is France v Iraq at 22:00, followed by Senegal v Norway.

    20:05
    20:05
    WHAT IT MEANS
    Argentina move on to six points from two games in Group J. They are in top spot, and will progress as winners if Jordan fail to beat Algeria later on.
    Austria, meanwhile, sit in second place with three points. A draw from their final game should be enough to go through.

    90+8'
    Whistle
    Full time
    90+8'
    Whistle
    FULL-TIME: ARGENTINA 2-0 AUSTRIA
    And there goes the full-time whistle. Argentina guarantee their spot in the last 32, but the story is all about Lionel Messi, who now has 18 goals during his World Cup career, two more than the nearest challenger, Miroslav Klose.
    The forward could have had a second successive hat-trick too, if it was not for that early penalty miss. History before our eyes.
    90+8'
    90+8'
    CLOSE
    The crowd roars as Messi eyes a hat-trick chance with a 30-yard free-kick, but it whistles the wrong side of the post
    90+5'
    Goal
    90+5'
    Goal
    GOAL! ARGENTINA 2-0 AUSTRIA (Lionel Messi)
    It's that man again! Schlager makes a superb stop from Alvarez, but the ball bounces out to Messi. His initial shot is blocked, but he makes space for himself by darting to the left and slots past the defenders on the line. Game over!
    L. Messi
    Goal
    L. MessiArgentina
    Argentina
    90+3'
    90+3'
    WIDE FROM WIMMER
    Was that the chance? Danso nods a ball into the box back across goal, only for Wimmer to flick wide of the far post from a central position
    90+2'
    90+2'
    PAREDES BOOKED
    The substitute gets a yellow card for a high, hooking tackle on Chukwuemeka
    L. Paredes
    Yellow card
    L. ParedesArgentina
    Argentina
    90+1'
    90+1'
    INJURY TIME IS HERE
    We are into an additional five minutes
    89'
    89'
    JUST NOT WORKING FOR AUSTRIA
    Perhaps they're banking on beating Algeria in their final group game, but there is a lack of quality from Austria in the final third. They are not committing enough men forward either.
    86'
    86'
    CHANGE FOR AUSTRIA
    Slightly before that, Carney Chukwuemeka came on for Gregoritsch
    C. Chukwuemeka
    Substitution in
    C. ChukwuemekaAustria
    Austria
    M. Gregoritsch
    Substitution out
    M. GregoritschAustria
    Austria
    86'
    86'
    DOUBLE BLOCK THWARTS ARGENTINA
    Gonzalez gets forward once more, but his shot is blocked by Danso, while Fernandez sees his follow-up charged down
    84'
    84'
    TIME RUNNING OUT FOR AUSTRIA
    They are being afforded some possession now, but Argentina step in as soon as they get close to the edge of the 18 yard box
    81'
    81'
    PAREDES IS ON
    And now Argentina make their final change. Rodrigo De Paul is replaced by Leandro Paredes
    Medina comes off too, allowing Nicolas Tagliafico to come on.
    L. Paredes
    Substitution in
    L. ParedesArgentina
    Argentina
    R. De Paul
    Substitution out
    R. De PaulArgentina
    Argentina
    78'
    78'
    AUSTRIA SUB
    Schmid comes off, with Patrick Wimmer introduced for the final 12 or so minutes
    P. Wimmer
    Substitution in
    P. WimmerAustria
    Austria
    R. Schmid
    Substitution out
    R. SchmidAustria
    Austria
    76'
    76'
    TWO BOOKINGS IN ONE
    Laimer and Medina both go into the book after the latter tackles the former, who then reacts with a push to the ground
    K. Laimer
    Yellow card
    K. LaimerAustria
    Austria
    73'
    73'
    GONZALEZ FLICKS WIDE
    73 minutes in and Argentina have just had their first corner of the game. Messi takes it, delivering an out-swinging delivery that Gonzalez runs on to at the near post, but his deft head drifts past the far corner