Argentina, reigning world champion, qualified for the round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup by dominating Austria 2-0 on Monday in Arlington, Texas, thanks to a record double from Lionel Messi.
The Argentine captain took sole lead in the ranking of the best scorers in the history of the World Cup by scoring his 17th and 18th goals in the competition on Monday against Austria.
The Argentine captain, who will turn 39 on Wednesday, now has two goals more than the German Miroslav Klose – whose record dates back to 2014 – whom he joined thanks to his hat-trick last week against Algeria (3-0) when the Argentine world champions entered the World Cup.
Kylian Mbappé in the rearview mirror
The Brazilian Ronaldo completes the podium with 15 goals, followed by the German Gerd Müller and the French Kylian Mbappé (14 goals). The captain of the Blues, who is playing his third World Cup in North America, will have the opportunity to improve his statistics.
In Arlington, near Dallas, the Argentine genius added two units to his personal tally, first with a curling shot from the left at the conclusion of a cross sent by Facundo Medina, which Thiago Almada let pass between his legs, then by tearing himself away to conclude an action in several times at the very end of the match.
A missed penalty at the start of the match
Messi, who is in his sixth World Cup (after 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022), played his 28th match in a World Cup on Monday against Austria, another record.
At the very start of the match, however, he missed a penalty, awarded to the Argentines after verification by the VAR. Excluding penalty shootouts, this is his third missed penalty in the World Cup in seven attempts, according to statistician Opta.
