FIFA World Cup 2026 | Group J, Match 43 | Monday, 22 June 2026 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas | Attendance: 70,649 | Referee: Amin Omar
He missed a penalty. Let us start there because it matters.
In the ninth minute, Lautaro Martínez was brought down in the box. Penalty. Messi stepped up — the man who had already scored a hat-trick against Algeria four days earlier, the man chasing the most significant scoring record in the sport’s history. He hit it weakly. Patrick Pentz saved it. 70,000 people inside AT&T Stadium fell into disbelief.
For ten minutes after that, Lionel Messi was entirely human. He reminded everyone he can miss. He reminded everyone this game is hard. And then, in the 38th minute, he scored the goal that put him alone at the top of the all-time Men’s World Cup scoring list.
Argentina 2-0 Austria. Messi with goals at 38 and 90+5. His 17th and 18th World Cup goals. The record is his.
Facundo Medina played a cutback from the left that found Messi inside the box. He controlled it and finished into the right corner. 1-0. His 17th World Cup goal. Level with Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 across four tournaments between 2002 and 2014. The whole of AT&T Stadium — Argentines, Austrians, neutrals who had turned up just for this moment — was on its feet.
Austria had their own moments. Kevin Danso — the Austrian centre-back who had moved from Lens to Paris Saint-Germain in January — was exceptional throughout. He blocked Nico González twice when the Fiorentina winger had dangerous attempts on goal. He stepped up to deny Argentina on multiple occasions when the champions looked set to make it two. Austria did not roll over. They competed, they organised, they caused genuine discomfort.
But they could not score. They had one shot on target all match. One.
The second goal came in the 90th minute plus five. Austria were chasing an equaliser they never truly looked like getting. Messi’s pass nearly set up Álvarez. The rebound came loose. His first attempt was blocked. He took another shot, buried it into the right corner. 2-0. His 18th World Cup goal. The record — solely, completely, undeniably his.
Zlatan Ibrahimović was watching in the FOX Sports studio. Thierry Henry was watching. Peter Schmeichel was watching. All of them — men who defined football for their own generations — saw Messi do something none of them had ever done. He now stands alone as the greatest goalscorer in the history of the Men’s World Cup.
Scaloni said afterwards that Cristian Romero had picked up a knee injury — the extent unknown until tests were completed. A blow. The Argentina captain will be assessed before the Round of 32. Losing Romero from the defensive shape changes things considerably.
Paredes received a yellow card in stoppage time for serious foul play. Laimer picked up a yellow for Austria — Medina was then carded for shoving Laimer in response. Chukwuemeka came on for Gregoritsch in the 85th for Austria. None of it changed the outcome.
Argentina finish Group J unbeaten — six points, five goals scored, none conceded in two games. They rest their squad against Jordan in the final group game. Messi will be given limited minutes. The knockout stage is what matters now.
For Austria, it is three points from two games. They face Algeria on Saturday in Kansas City — the same Algeria that just beat Jordan 2-1 earlier in the day to move level on three points with Austria. The Group J second place goes to the wire. Austria need to match or better whatever Algeria do.
Five goals. Messi has scored five of Argentina’s five goals at this World Cup. Every single one of them. The hat-trick against Algeria. The two against Austria. A penalty missed. A record equalled and then broken. A standing ovation when he was finally — finally — substituted off.
“It’s his World Cup,” Thierry Henry said in the studio. Nobody argued.
For live World Cup scores from every group, visit fawanews.org.uk. Full results, standings and knockout bracket at the official FIFA World Cup website.
Argentina 2-0 Austria FIFA World Cup 2026, Group J, Match 43 | Monday, 22 June 2026 AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas | Attendance: 70,649 | Referee: Amin Omar
Goals: Lionel Messi 38′ (assist: Facundo Medina cutback), Lionel Messi 90’+5′ (rebound finish) Penalty missed: Lionel Messi 9′ (saved by Pentz — Lautaro Martínez fouled in box)
Yellow Cards: Konrad Laimer (Austria) | Facundo Medina (Argentina, shove on Laimer) | Leandro Paredes 90’+2′ (Argentina, serious foul play)
Argentina (4-4-2): F. Martínez; Medina, C. Romero, N. González, Molina; Almada, E. Fernández, Mac Allister, De Paul; L. Martínez, Messi
Austria: Pentz; Danso, defenders; Laimer, midfielders; Gregoritsch (Chukwuemeka 85′), Wimmer, forwards
Stats: Possession Argentina 48% — Austria 43% (9% contested) | Attempts 12-6 | Shots on Target 5-1 | Half-time: 1-0
Record: Lionel Messi — 18 Men’s World Cup goals, the all-time record. Five goals scored in two games at the 2026 World Cup. Every Argentina goal at this tournament.
Group J standings: Argentina 6 pts (qualified, group winners) | Algeria 3 pts | Austria 3 pts | Jordan 0 pts (eliminated)
