Lionel Messi makes World Cup history with a Dallas brace

There was history under the lights in Texas as Lionel Messi scored twice to beat Austria 2-0 and send Argentina into the Round of 32. The brace lifted his World Cup tally to 18 goals, surging past the mark of 16 set by Germany's Miroslav Klose between 2002 and 2014. With his 17th goal before half-time and his 18th deep in stoppage time, Messi did not just break the all-time record — he stretched it two clear and stood alone as the greatest goalscorer the tournament has ever known.

The evening could have unravelled early. Handed a ninth-minute penalty after Lautaro Martínez was fouled, Messi pushed his effort wide — only the third penalty of his World Cup career to be missed, and the first since facing Poland in 2022. The response was emphatic. His opener arrived in the 38th minute and his second, completing the brace, came in the fifth minute of added time, a fitting flourish to a night that belonged entirely to him.

At 38, it was the first World Cup brace Messi has ever scored, joining Just Fontaine and Jairzinho as one of only three players to have scored in six consecutive World Cup matches.

How Argentina booked their place in the last 32

Lionel Scaloni's reigning world champions controlled the contest from first whistle to last against a well-drilled Austria coached by Ralf Rangnick. The penalty miss barely registered; Argentina kept their shape and their patience and were rewarded just before the break, Thiago Almada's clever dummy releasing Facundo Medina to cut the ball back for Messi to finish. Stefan Posch's booking summed up Austria's increasingly stretched attempts to hold the line.

After the interval Argentina shifted into management mode. Cristian Romero departed with a knee injury on 58 minutes, replaced by Nicolás Otamendi, and Scaloni emptied his bench as the result settled. Austria offered effort but little threat, and yellow cards for Konrad Laimer and Medina reflected the tightening contest. Messi had the final word in stoppage time, completing his brace to seal a composed 2-0 victory.

What Messi's record means for the World Cup

To extend the all-time record to 18, with a brace, at 38 years of age, is a statement of a competitive desire that has refused to fade. Messi remains in the tournament with a champion side, and the number may climb higher still. Behind him, France's Kylian Mbappé — 27 years old and on 14 World Cup goals — looms as the most likely successor in the years to come, with chances of his own still to follow this summer.

Argentina join Mexico, the USA and Germany in the knockouts

The win carries Argentina to six points from two matches, top of Group J on a +5 goal difference and through to the knockout rounds with a game to spare. They are the fourth side to qualify for the Round of 32 at this 48-nation World Cup, after hosts Mexico, the United States and 2014 winners Germany. Austria, beaten for the first time following their opening victory over Jordan, must now regroup before the final round of group games.