Messi's Milestone
Argentina's star forward Lionel Messi etched another chapter into World Cup lore by scoring twice against Austria, pushing his career tally to 18 goals and making him the tournament's all‑time leading scorer.
The brace not only secured a 2‑1 victory but also marked Messi's sixth appearance in the global showcase, joining an exclusive club of only three players to have ever competed in six editions of the competition.
With those goals, Messi accounted for every Argentine strike in the group stage, having previously netted a hat‑trick versus Algeria and now adding a brace against Austria, a feat that underscores his pivotal role in the team's progression to the knockout round.
The result guaranteed Argentina's spot in the next phase and set up a decisive final group match against Jordan, scheduled for Saturday, June 27 at 10 p.m. ET at Dallas Stadium, where the squad hopes to maintain momentum.
Brazilian legend Rivaldo, who has long admired Messi's artistry, took to his official Instagram to commend the Argentine's dedication, describing his impact on the sport as extraordinary and his work ethic as a model for future generations.
Argentina's coaching staff is now focused on fine‑tuning tactics for the Jordan encounter, aware that a strong performance could cement their status as tournament dark horses and further enrich Messi's already legendary World Cup narrative.