Argentina secured their place in the World Cup knockout stage on Monday as Lionel Messi recovered from an early penalty miss to score a record-breaking double in a 2-0 victory over Austria in Group J.
Messi's Record-Breaking Goals
Messi opened the scoring before halftime, initiating a slick move and timing his run to meet Facundo Medina's low cross, finishing first-time into the bottom corner. That goal was his 17th in World Cup history, moving him clear of Germany's Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading scorer in men's World Cup history. He sealed the win in stoppage time, reacting quickest after a scramble in the box to force the ball home for his second of the night, his 18th World Cup goal. This moved him clear of Brazilian great Marta as the leading scorer across men's and women's tournaments and extended his scoring streak to six consecutive World Cup matches.
Early Miss and Austrian Resistance
Messi had earlier missed a golden chance to make history inside 10 minutes after Lautaro Martinez won a penalty, dragging his effort wide. He was twice denied again as Austria's defense, marshalled by David Alaba, frustrated the eight-times Ballon d'Or winner. Despite the early miss, Messi's persistence paid off as he eventually found the net twice to guide Argentina to victory.
Impact on the Tournament
The win booked Argentina's place in the knockout stage as defending champions, continuing their quest to retain the title. Messi's record-breaking performance further cemented his legacy as one of the greatest players in football history, with his 18 World Cup goals now the most in the combined men's and women's tournaments.
