By Amah
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Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, etched his name deeper into football history on Monday, scoring twice against Austria to become the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history and lead the reigning champions into the knockout stage of the tournament.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner delivered another masterclass as Argentina secured a comfortable 2-0 victory in their Group J clash at Arlington, Texas, guaranteeing their place in the round of 32.
Messi opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a composed finish past Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, surpassing the long-standing World Cup scoring record he had previously shared with German legend Miroslav Klose.
The Argentine superstar then put the result beyond doubt deep into stoppage time, firing home his second goal of the night through a crowded penalty area to extend his all-time World Cup tally to 18 goals.
The historic achievement came after an early setback for Messi, who missed a penalty in the opening minutes of the match. However, the veteran forward quickly recovered to produce another match-winning performance for his country.
The brace also took Messi’s goal tally for the tournament to five, following his hat-trick in Argentina’s opening 3-0 victory over Algeria.
Argentina’s latest win ensures progression to the knockout rounds and strengthens their bid to retain the World Cup title. The South Americans could also finish top of Group J depending on the outcome of the match between Jordan and Algeria.
A legacy beyond records
Already regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi continues to add new milestones to a career filled with individual and team achievements.
Since leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, the veteran forward has remained a central figure for the national team despite approaching his 39th birthday.
His latest record further cements his status among football’s immortals, surpassing former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, whose tally of 16 World Cup goals had stood as the benchmark for more than a decade.
With Argentina advancing to the knockout phase and Messi in prolific form, expectations are growing that the defending champions could make another deep run in their quest for back-to-back World Cup titles.
