The Argentina captain entered the match tied with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals but moved clear of the record with two strikes that helped secure Argentina’s second consecutive group-stage victory. The result also ensured Argentina’s place in the tournament’s knockout rounds.

Messi’s achievement came despite an early setback. The 38-year-old forward missed a penalty kick in the ninth minute, sending his left-footed effort just wide of the post. Rather than allowing the miss to define his performance, Messi responded with two goals that underlined his enduring influence on the world stage.

“I’m so happy for the win,” Messi said after the match. He described the contest as difficult and emphasized the importance of securing qualification early in the competition.

Record-Breaking Night in Arlington

The breakthrough arrived in the 38th minute when Messi finished a move involving Thiago Almada and Facundo Medina to score his 17th World Cup goal and move ahead of Klose on the all-time list.

The goal sparked celebrations among the sold-out crowd of 70,649 spectators at the NFL stadium home of the Dallas Cowboys, where Argentina supporters significantly outnumbered Austria fans.

Messi later added his second goal deep into stoppage time. After an initial attempt was stopped by Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, the Argentine star converted the rebound through a crowded penalty area to extend the record to 18 World Cup goals.

The performance came just days after Messi scored his first World Cup hat trick in a 3-0 victory over Algeria, a match that allowed him to equal Klose’s previous mark.

Argentina Maintains Strong Start

Argentina has now won its opening two matches of the tournament and advanced comfortably into the knockout phase.

Messi has been central to that success. He scored all three goals against Algeria and followed that display with another decisive performance against Austria. His latest goal also marked the sixth consecutive World Cup match in which he has found the net, placing him alongside Just Fontaine and Jairzinho among the few players to achieve that feat.

The match also highlighted Argentina’s resilience. Despite the missed penalty and a tightly contested first half, the South American side maintained control and eventually secured a victory that strengthened its status as one of the tournament favorites.

Praise From Opponents and Teammates

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his captain’s continued excellence after another landmark performance.

Austria coach Ralf Rangnick also acknowledged Messi’s impact, noting that the veteran forward remains capable of making the difference at the highest level despite nearing his 39th birthday.

The missed penalty had briefly raised concerns among Argentina supporters. The opportunity came after officials reviewed a challenge on Lautaro Martínez inside the penalty area following a delayed stoppage in play. However, Messi recovered quickly and ultimately delivered the decisive contribution.

Historic Career Continues

Messi’s latest milestone adds to a career already filled with individual honors and records. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was playing his 28th World Cup match, extending his FIFA tournament appearance record.

Klose, whose 16-goal mark had stood since Germany’s 2014 World Cup triumph, recently said he expected Messi to surpass the record and welcomed the possibility.

The achievement comes during an emotional period for Messi, whose father, Jorge Messi, has been receiving medical treatment for an undisclosed illness. Family representatives confirmed the health issue last week but provided no additional details.

For now, Argentina’s focus shifts toward the knockout rounds, where Messi will have further opportunities to extend a scoring record that now belongs solely to him.

Tournament Implications

With qualification secured and momentum building, Argentina enters the next phase of the World Cup as one of the leading contenders for the title. Messi’s form has been a major factor, with five goals through the opening stages of the competition.

As the tournament progresses, the record-setting forward continues to reinforce his place among football’s most accomplished figures while helping Argentina pursue another World Cup crown.

Tags: Lionel Messi, Argentina National Team, FIFA World Cup, Austria National Team, Lionel Scaloni, Miroslav Klose, Lautaro Martinez, Alexander Schlager, Group Stage, World Cup Records

The post Messi Sets New World Cup Scoring Record as Argentina Defeats Austria appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The three-time defending world champions began their campaign with a convincing win as Messi found the net three times, moving his World Cup tally to 16 goals across six tournament appearances. The achievement placed him alongside Klose atop the competition’s all-time scoring list.

Following his opening goal, an emotional Messi was seen wiping tears from his eyes before continuing a dominant display that silenced any lingering concerns about a hamstring issue that had limited him in the lead-up to the tournament.

“My tears after the first goal? I’ve had some tough days. It wasn’t related to football,” Messi said after the match. “I thank my teammates, the coaching staff and the delegation for helping me.”

Messi Delivers in World Cup Opener

Messi opened the scoring in the early stages after connecting with a pass from Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul. He added a second goal from a rebound shortly after halftime before completing his hat trick with a clinical finish before leaving the field to a standing ovation.

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni praised his captain’s influence following the victory.

“At a loss for words about Leo. What can I say? He’s incredible,” Scaloni said.

The match was played before a crowd of 69,045 spectators in Kansas City, where Argentina supporters heavily outnumbered their Algerian counterparts.

Historic Milestone Reached Two Decades After Debut

The performance came exactly 20 years after Messi made his World Cup debut against Serbia and Montenegro, a match in which he also scored.

According to the supplied match information, Messi became only the second player to score in five editions of the World Cup. The hat trick was the 61st of his professional career, his 11th for Argentina, and his first in World Cup competition.

The Argentina captain has now scored in five consecutive World Cup matches and appears well positioned to move beyond Klose’s mark as the tournament progresses.

“It makes me very happy to have lived through everything that came my way,” Messi said. “What I’m living through now is the cherry on top.”

Other Stars Shine on Busy World Cup Day

Messi’s performance came on a day that also featured strong displays from other international stars.

Kylian Mbappé scored twice in France’s 3-1 victory over Senegal, while Erling Haaland netted two goals in Norway’s 4-1 win against Iraq.

Haaland reacted to Messi’s display on social media, writing: “Messi is a madman.”

Argentina Relies on Veteran Leader

Messi entered the tournament after dealing with a minor hamstring injury while playing for Inter Miami. However, he showed no visible limitations during Argentina’s opening match.

The appearance also marked the 200th international match of Messi’s career since making his senior debut in 2005.

“Fortunately, I’m doing well, and today we managed to win a tough match,” Messi said. “It’s important to start the tournament with a victory in the first game.”

Argentina’s strong opening result gives the defending champions momentum as they continue their pursuit of another World Cup title, while Messi’s record-tying performance adds another milestone to one of football’s most decorated careers.

Tags: Lionel Messi, Argentina, Algeria, FIFA World Cup, Miroslav Klose, Rodrigo De Paul, Lionel Scaloni, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Kansas City

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