Lionel Messi broke Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record to become the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s World Cup history, scoring twice as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 to seal their place in the knockout stage.
The match at AT&T Stadium in Dallas was dictated by tactical chess, with Lionel Scaloni’s team leaning on calculated possession against Ralf Rangnick’s signature high-pressing engine. Early drama unfolded in the 7th minute when Argentina was awarded a penalty via a lengthy VAR review. Shockingly, Messi missed the spot-kick, with Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager pulling off an incredible save.
However, La Albiceleste did not lose focus. In the 38th minute, Messi made amends, latching onto a brilliant progressive pass from Facundo Medina to score his first of the night. He sealed the victory deep in stoppage time, drilling a loose ball into the bottom-right corner in the 95th minute to make it 2-0.
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With his two goals, Messi moved to 18 career World Cup goals, officially breaking Klose’s record of 16. He also became the first player in football history to score a goal in six separate World Cup tournament editions, having found the net in every tournament since 2006.
Argentina dominated possession with 54 percent and registered 12 shots, three on target, while Austria managed six shots, one on target. Argentine passing accuracy stood at 90 percent compared to Austria’s 87 percent.
According to a report by Accra Street Journal, the result ensures Argentina top Group J with a perfect six points from two matches. They have now secured their place in the Round of 32 with a game to spare, cementing their status as one of the tournament favourites.
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BEFORE KICK-OFF
Pre-Match Report & News
The Stakes
Argentina Team News
Austria Team News
Projected Starting Lineups
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- Goalkeeper: Emiliano Martínez
- Defenders: Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina (or Nicolás Tagliafico)
- Midfielders: Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister
- Forwards: Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada
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- Goalkeeper: Alexander Schlager
- Defenders: Konrad Laimer, David Alaba, Philipp Lienhart, Phillipp Mwene
- Defensive Midfielders: Xaver Schlager, Nicolas Seiwald
- Attacking Midfielders: Romano Schmid, Michael Gregoritsch, Marcel Sabitzer
- Striker: Marko Arnautović (or Saša Kalajdžić)
Fast Match Facts & Analytical Records
- The Ultimate Goal Record: Lionel Messi is currently tied with Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the joint-top scorer in World Cup history with 16 goals. If Messi scores against Austria, he will break the all-time record and become the first player to score in six separate World Cup editions.
- Contrasting Histories: This is Austria’s first World Cup appearance in 28 years. While Argentina is chasing consecutive titles, Austria is attempting to escape the group stage for the first time since 1982.
- Ruthless attacking streaks: Argentina is on the verge of history. If they score three or more goals tomorrow, they will become only the seventh nation to score 3+ goals in four consecutive World Cup matches.
- South American Hoodoo: While Ralf Rangnick has won 10 of his last 12 matches in charge of “Das Team”, Austria has traditionally struggled against South American heavyweights, winning just one of their last ten matches against CONMEBOL opposition.
- Broadcast Details: Fans in the United States can watch the blockbuster matchup live on FOX (English) and stream it via Fubo
Source: Accra Street Journal
Last Updated on June 22, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu
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Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.
