Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history after he netted both goals in Argentina’s 2-0 Group J win over Austria at the Dallas Stadium in Texas on Monday evening.
Two days short of his 39th birthday, Messi struck in the latter stages of the first half, and deep in injury time at the end of the game, to see La Albiceleste claim their second successive win and secure progression into the knockout phase with a game to spare.
Messi’s goals were his fourth and fifth of this tournament, taking his overall World Cup tally to 18 – eclipsing the previous mark of 16 set by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
Argentina were awarded an early penalty (via VAR review) when Lautaro Martinez was brought down in a sandwich challenge between Austrian defenders Xaver Schlager and Stefan Posch. Messi took the spot kick in the ninth minute, but dragged his effort wide of the mark.
The Argentina No 10 finally got his goal in the 38th minute, stroking a left-footed shot into the back of the net from just inside the box after stepping into the path of Facundo Medina’s pull-back from the left.
Messi then picked up a loose ball after a one-on-one save from Schlager and, at the second time of asking, drilled home a low shot for 2-0.