Argentina secured their place in the Round of 32 at the FIFA World Cup 2026 after a 2–0 victory over Austria in their second group-stage match, with Lionel Messi once again at the heart of the action.
The reigning champions continued their strong form in Group J, collecting six points and strengthening their position at the top of the table.
Messi opened the scoring in the 38th minute, further extending his extraordinary World Cup legacy and moving clear at the top of the tournament’s all-time scoring charts.
He added a second goal in stoppage time (90+5), sealing the win and pushing his overall tally to 18 World Cup goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose and setting a new benchmark in the competition’s history.
The Argentine captain also reached 122 international goals in 201 appearances, while maintaining Argentina’s unbeaten run at the World Cup, which now stands at eight consecutive matches.
The victory marked the first time since 2014 that Argentina have won their opening two group matches, and the first time since 1998 that they have done so without conceding.
Despite missing a penalty during the match, Messi’s influence remained decisive, as he became the first player in the 2026 tournament to register multiple multi-goal performances, underlining his enduring dominance on football’s biggest stage.
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