- Full Time
- L. Messi95'
- L. Paredes92'
- 85'C. Chukwuemeka on for M. Gregoritsch
- N. Tagliafico on for F. Medina82'
- L. Paredes on for R. De Paul82'
- 78'P. Wimmer on for R. Schmid
- 76'K. Laimer
- F. Medina76'
- 68'M. Arnautović on for P. Wanner
- 68'A. Prass on for S. Posch
- 67'M. Friedl on for D. Alaba
- N. González on for Lautaro Martínez65'
- J. Alvarez on for T. Almada64'
- N. Otamendi on for C. Romero57'
- Half Time
- 40'S. Posch
- L. Messi38'
- L. Messi Penalty missed9'
- Lautaro Martínez Penalty awarded7'
- Kick Off
-
1
Lionel Messi2
- 1Lionel Messi7
- 2
Marcel Sabitzer3 - 3Enzo Fernández2
- 1Alexis Mac Allister3
- 2Xaver Schlager2
- 3Thiago Almada2
- 1Facundo Medina1
- 1Lionel Messi2
- 2Stefan Posch1
- 3Enzo Fernández1
- 1Kevin Danso69
- 2Lisandro Martínez68
- 3Enzo Fernández63
- 1Lionel Messi3
- 2Romano Schmid2
- 3Konrad Laimer1
- 1Nicolas Seiwald3
- 2Cristian Romero2
- 3Nahuel Molina2
Lionel Messi became the leading goalscorer in World Cup history by scoring both of Argentina’s goals in their 2-0 win over Austria in Dallas.
Despite missing an early penalty, two left-footed strikes either side of half-time wrote Messi’s name into the history books and perhaps more importantly, secured top spot in the group for Albiceleste.
The first serious action came very early on with Stefan Posch bringing down Lautaro Martinez in the box. After a VAR check, the penalty was awarded.
With a glorious chance to pull clear of Miroslav Klose as the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer, Lionel Messi stepped up and, against everyone’s expectations, dragged his penalty wide of the post. That was the first missed penalty of this tournament.
The Albiceleste skipper had another chance a few moments later as he looked to wriggle free of the defence, but David Alaba was able to get an important foot in to the way of his shot.
Before the break, Messi finally broke the record and put his team ahead. He picked up the ball and started off a fine, flowing move before finishing it in trademark style — running onto a low pass on the edge of the box and side-footing home emphatically.
Austria’s struggles to get into the game continued into the second half, their only half-chances coming from a Marcel Sabitzer free-kick that was saved easily by Emi Martinez and a header which Michael Gregoritsch couldn’t divert goalwards.
Nico Gonzalez had a fine chance to double Argentina’s lead not long after coming off the bench but headed wide from the edge of the six yard box with very little pressure.
Austria’s finest chance came to the head of Patrick Wimmer via Kevin Danso, but he could only nod his header wide of the post.
Eventually, finally, deep into stoppage time, Messi wrapped up the game. A rebound fell to him in the box and though his first shot couldn’t find a way through he managed to fire it through the recovering Austrian defence into the goal to secure the three points.
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