Argentina defeats Austria 2-0 as Lionel Messi becomes the all-time World Cup top scorer

On June 22, 2026, Argentina secured a 2-0 victory against Austria in their second match of the 10th group, confirming their qualification for the Round of 32. Lionel Messi scored a goal in the 38th minute, which served as his 17th career goal in the World Cup, surpassing Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading scorer in the tournament's history. Earlier in the match, Messi missed a penalty kick in the 9th minute after a VAR review confirmed a foul on Lautaro Martinez by Schlager and Pos. Despite the initial miss, the Argentine team continued to pressure the Austrian defense. The goal was assisted by Facundo Medina. Some sources reported different tallies, with some citing 17 goals and others 18, but the consensus focuses on his achievement of overtaking Klose. The victory puts Argentina at two wins in two matches during the group stage.