World Cup: Messi’s brace powers Argentina past Austria, sets new record

Lionel Messi delivered another historic performance as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in their Group J clash at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, moving the defending champions closer to the Round of 32.
The Argentine captain opened the scoring in the 38th minute before sealing victory deep into stoppage time with his second goal of the match at Dallas Stadium.
Messi’s first strike carried extra significance as it saw him surpass Germany legend Miroslav Klose to become the highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history. The 39-year-old forward later extended that record with his second goal of the evening, taking his tournament tally to 18 goals.
Argentina largely controlled proceedings agains...