Argentina secured a 2-0 victory over Austria in a tightly contested match, with Lionel Messi delivering the decisive goals.
The win not only cemented Argentina's place in the knockout stage but also marked a historic milestone for the veteran forward.
A Milestone Achieved
Messi's first strike took him past Germany's Miroslav Klose, while his second surpassed Brazil's Marta in the all-time scoring charts, bringing his career tally to 18 World Cup goals.
Despite an early penalty miss that could have opened the scoring, Messi's composure returned in the dying minutes, finishing off a low drive from six yards to seal the result.
The match saw several key moments, including a set-piece save by Emi Martinez and a header by Michael Gregoritsch that rattled the crossbar.
Thiago Almada provided the assist for Messi's opening goal, while Lautaro Martinez was fouled in the box, leading to the penalty that Messi later missed.
Defensive heroics from David Alaba and Xaver Schlager kept Austria in the game, but Argentina's attacking pressure eventually broke through.
Messi, who will turn 39 on Wednesday, celebrated his fourth and fifth goals across two matches in the tournament, underscoring his enduring impact.
The performance was also notable for the involvement of several other players, including Facundo Medina, Cristian Romero, and Nico Gonzalez, who contributed to the team's overall cohesion.
With the victory, Argentina joins the advancing teams, while the match also drew attention from various locations, including Texas and Mexico City, where fans gathered to watch the action.