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Messi becomes World Cup’s top scorer as Argentina defeats Austria
On 22 June 2026 at Dallas’s AT&T Stadium, Argentina beat Austria 2‑0 in the second group‑stage match of the FIFA World Cup. Lionel Messi scored both goals – the first in the 38th minute, the second in added time – and with the double lifted his World Cup tally to 18 goals, surpassing Miroslav Klose (16) and Marta (17) to become the tournament’s all‑time leading scorer.
The victory gave Argentina six points, securing the Group J leader’s position and a place in the round of 16, where they will meet the second‑placed team of Group H on 3 July in Miami. Coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi’s commitment and the team’s resilience after a missed penalty early in the game. In Argentina, a viral campaign organized by Telefe urges millions to sing “Happy Birthday” to Messi at 10 am and 10 pm on 24 June, the player’s 39th birthday.
The match also sparked commentary from former stars such as Zlatan Ibrahimović, who highlighted Messi’s five goals in two World Cup matches compared with his own zero. Overall, the win reinforced Argentina’s title defence and delivered a historic individual milestone for Messi.