The Economic Times

Argentina vs Austria FIFA World Cup: Lionel Messi's world record sends defending champions into football knockouts

Lionel Messi's brace secured Argentina's spot in the FIFA World Cup 2026 knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Austria. Despite a missed penalty early on, the veteran forward broke the deadlock before adding a second in stoppage time. These goals propelled Messi to become the all-time leading scorer in men's World Cup history. Coach Scaloni lauded Messi's commitment and the team's resilience.