Argentina captain Lionel Messi overcame an unusually frustrating start before delivering yet another masterclass, scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday to send Argentina into the FIFA World Cup last 32 while rewriting football history in the process.
On a night when all eyes were fixed on the Argentine superstar at Dallas Stadium, things initially did not go according to script for Messi.
The 38-year-old surprisingly squandered an early penalty and missed a couple of opportunities that he would ordinarily bury with ease, briefly raising hopes among a disciplined Austrian side that had managed to frustrate the defending champions in the opening exchanges.
Yet greatness often reveals itself through resilience, and Messi once again reminded the football world why he remains the game’s defining figure.
Despite Austria’s compact defensive setup, Argentina continued to attack relentlessly from every direction, stretching the opposition with waves of pressure through both flanks and central areas. Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister and Enzo Fernández controlled midfield superbly, constantly feeding Argentina’s dangerous frontline.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 38th minute and, fittingly, it came from Messi. Receiving a clever pass from Facundo Medina near the edge of the area, Messi created just enough space with a trademark shift onto his favored left foot before curling a precise finish beyond the goalkeeper, scoring his record-breaking 17th World Cup goal to surpass German legend Miroslav Klose as the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
Argentina remained firmly in control after the interval, dominating possession while continuing to probe from left, right and through the center with relentless intensity. Austria showed little attacking threat for long periods as Argentina’s defensive discipline allowed Messi and company to dictate the tempo.
Then deep into stoppage time came another unforgettable moment.
Launching a devastating counterattack, Julián Álvarez drove into the box before his effort was saved by Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. Messi, however, reacted quickest, chasing down the rebound before muscling past a crowded goal line and hammering a fierce low finish into the net.
As he wheeled away celebrating wildly, Messi looked years younger — full of energy, hunger and joy — as if time itself had momentarily surrendered.
His second goal of the night, and 18th in World Cup history, not only secured Argentina’s victory but further cemented a legacy that continues to defy age, logic and expectation. On another magical night in Dallas, football once again belonged to Messi.
