Messi breaks Klose's World Cup record, Argentina reach last 32 on Maradona anniversary

Record-breaking night in Dallas

Lionel Messi wrote another chapter in his storied career on Monday at Dallas Stadium, scoring twice as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in their second Group J match of the 2026 World Cup. His 38th-minute opener, a left-footed sweep from Facundo Medina's cross, was his 17th World Cup goal, moving him past German great Miroslav Klose (16) for the men's all-time record. In stoppage time, Messi pounced on a scramble to claim his 18th, sealing Argentina's passage to the last 32 with a game to spare. The 38-year-old, who turns 39 on Wednesday, had already joined Klose on 16 with a hat-trick against Algeria in the opening match.

A rare miss from the spot

The historic evening almost began differently. After a VAR review in the ninth minute, Austrian defender David Alaba was judged to have fouled Lautaro Martinez, and referee Amin Mohamed pointed to the spot. A hush fell over the 70,649 crowd as Messi placed the ball, but his casual run-up produced a weak effort that drifted wide of Alexander Schlager's post. It was Messi's 33rd missed penalty from 149 attempts, a 78.4 percent success rate that belies his otherwise impeccable finishing. Messi was later denied twice by Alaba, who blocked a goal-bound shot and dispossessed him in the box, before Medina and Thiago Almada combined to tee up the record-breaking finish.

Maradona's 40-year shadow

The match fell on the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" and "Goal of the Century" against England at Mexico City's Azteca Stadium, a date celebrated in Argentina as the Day of the Argentine Footballer. Fans in Kansas City and Dallas unfurled banners, one with Messi and Maradona side by side and the word "simbiosis", and chanted that "Maradona is greater than Pele." Coach Lionel Scaloni, who was eight years old in 1986, recalled watching on a small TV at his grandmother's house.

Emotional. I didn't know tomorrow was the anniversary of that great goal, so let's enjoy it. We will see it everywhere tomorrow. We'll cry a little too.

Group J picture

Argentina top the group on six points and are through. Austria, who beat Jordan 2-1 in their opener, remain on three points and face a decisive final match. Earlier on Monday, Jordan and Algeria met in Santa Clara, with both teams seeking to avoid early elimination. Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic said his side had their fate "in their own hands" after a tough opener against Argentina, while Jordan's Jamal Sellami believed the "fear of the opener" was gone.

Cooling breaks and tactical tweaks

Scaloni had spoken before the match about the unusual rhythm imposed by the hydration breaks mandated for the indoor stadium in the Texas heat. He said the pauses, splitting each half into roughly 22- to 23-minute segments, allowed coaches to "amend certain things" but were "weird to adapt to." His team nonetheless controlled possession, with Austria managing no shots on target in the first half, and nullified Ralf Rangnick's high-pressing side through patient buildup.