Argentina booked their place in the knockout stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a 2-0 victory over Austria in a crucial Group J encounter on Monday.

The reigning world champions once again turned to their talisman, Lionel Messi, who produced another unforgettable display on football’s biggest stage.

Austria frustrated Argentina for lengthy periods and even enjoyed spells of possession, but the South Americans always looked dangerous whenever Messi was involved. The breakthrough arrived in the 38th minute when the Argentine captain found the back of the net after missing an earlier penalty, sending the crowd into celebration.

As Austria pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Argentina remained composed and sealed the result deep into stoppage time. Messi struck again in the 95th minute to complete his brace and confirm a deserved victory for Lionel Scaloni’s side.

The match will be remembered for Argentina’s qualification and Messi’s historic milestone. His two goals lifted his World Cup total to 18, making him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer and surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose. The record-breaking performance further reinforced Messi’s status as one of football’s greatest players.

Messi could extend his tally when Argentina face Jordan in their final group match and, potentially, in the round of 32. Given his current form, he looks likely to score whenever Argentina play, so his record total may continue to grow.