Lionel Messi recovered from an early penalty miss to make FIFA World Cup history as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in Dallas and moved to the brink of the knockout stages.
The Argentina captain endured a frustrating start when he missed the opportunity to break the men’s World Cup scoring record from the penalty spot in the ninth minute.
But the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner would not be denied for long.
After a tightly contested first half, Messi finally found the breakthrough six minutes before the interval. Facundo Medina picked out the veteran forward on the edge of the penalty area and Messi took a touch before drilling a precise finish into the bottom-left corner beyond the goalkeeper.
The goal was his 17th in men’s World Cup competition, moving him clear of Germany legend Miroslav Klose and into sole possession of the tournament’s all-time scoring record.
Austria, who had impressed in their opening victory, proved difficult opponents and remained in the contest for much of the second half.
Ralf Rangnick’s side pressed aggressively and attempted to disrupt Argentina’s rhythm, but Lionel Scaloni’s team gradually tightened their grip on proceedings as the match wore on.
With Austria pushing forward in search of an equaliser during stoppage time, Argentina delivered the decisive blow.
In the fifth minute of added time, Messi reacted quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area and rifled home the rebound to seal victory and complete a memorable evening.
The second goal not only secured all three points but also underlined the enduring brilliance of a player who continues to rewrite football history.
Argentina’s victory lifts them to six points from two matches and leaves them firmly in control of Group J ahead of their final group-stage fixture.
For Austria, defeat represents a setback but not a fatal one, with qualification for the knockout rounds still within reach.
Meanwhile, Algeria will look to win against Jordan in the second game of Group J later tonight.
