Argentina 2-0 Austria: Messi breaks all-time scoring record with two more goals

Lionel Messi looks so happy as he celebrates the win with his teammates in Dallas.

The Argentina fans are going crazy and the GOAT and his teammates have delivered to professional displays to reach the Round of 32.

Messi, take a bow, once again. This is your day in Dallas.

Argentina 2-0 up and Messi has both of them.

A counter attack leads to Alvarez being set in and his effort is saved by Schlager.

The ball bounces back to Messi and at the second attempt he slams home.

2-0. Wild scenes in Dallas.

That is excellent from Kevin Danso.

Great block from the Spurs defender as Nico Gonzalez is clean through over the top.

That is superb from Austria defensively. They deserve a lot of credit for making Argentina sweat like this.

Lionel Messi whips in a brilliant corner and Nico Gonzalez arrives and heads just wide.

That was a fine corner and Gonzalez flicked it just wide.

Argentina really need this 2-0. Austria are in this game.

Just over 10 minutes plus stoppage time to go.

20 minutes to go and it’s still 1-0 to Argentina.

But Austria have decided to mix it up and bring Arnautovic.

How does that change things?

Long balls up top and Arnautovic trying to feed off scraps.

Austria are having a proper go here.

Sabitzer’s free kick is curled towards the far top corner but Emiliano Martinez dives to his left and pushes the ball away.

Austria then keep the ball and whip in crosses. They are hanging in there.

Lionel Messi is popping up in gaps and Austria can’t handle him.

The only way Austria can stop Messi is kicking him.

They are doing it a lot. All over the pitch.

Messi wins a free kick 40 yards out and tries to chip it but Austria.

Lionel Messi has broken the record, and is the all-time leading World Cup scorer in history.

It is a textbook Messi goal. It had to be. 1-0 to Argentina!

Argentina attack down the left and the ball is cut back to Messi and he curls home.

What a moment. He’s done it! Messi has 17 goals in World Cup history and is the all-time leader.

Lionel Messi is popping up in all the right areas and this time he plays a lovely ball towards goal.

Austria’s goalkeeper clears but it’s straight back to Messi.

His shot is blocked by Alaba. Messi is getting closer and twisting and turning Austria around.

Schlager makes a fine save down low as Messi dances his way through on goal.

It looked like Messi had got the shot away, but replays show it was David Alaba getting a toe in.

Great defending and an even better save.

Messi is still waiting for that goal but he’s buzzing around the right areas.

Everyone expected that to go in, and it goes wide.

Lionel Messi has the chance to become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, but he shuffles up and puts the penalty wide.

He looks stunned and bemused. So does everyone else in the stadium.

Huge let-off for Austria early on.

Lautaro Martinez is in but two Austrian defenders slide in and catch him.

VAR is checking for a potential penalty kick.

The referee is going to the monitor... and he gives a penalty kick!

Messi is going to have the chance to set the all-time record...

Almada is in but he slams his shot into the side-netting at the near post.

He looked just offside.

Statement of intent from Argentina early.

Argentina’s fans are among the best there is, if not the best, and they have taken over Dallas.

Here’s a look at the scene right now in Dallas as Fox’s studio is outside the stadium and Argentina’s fans are already lauding Messi.

Ralf Rangnick has made three changes to his starting lineup from the win against Jordan.

In come Gregoritsch up top, Danso at center back and Wanner in midfield.

Then of course there is veteran striker Marko Arnautovic lurking on the bench and ready to come on and cause havoc late on.

Austria starting lineup

A. Schlager; Posch, Danso, Alaba, Laimer; Seiwald, X. Schlager; Schmid, Wanner, Sabitzer; Gregoritsch

Lionel Scaloni has named his starting lineup for Argentina against Austria and it’s exactly the same team which beat Algeria.

Why would you change that lineup?

Messi is captain and starting again and Argentina will hope to put this result beyond doubt well before the full time whistle so they can whip their captain off and give him a rest.

They just have the likes of Julian Alvarez, Nicolas Gonzalez, Nico Paz and Giuliano Simeone to bring off the bench.

Argentina starting lineup confirmed

Emiliano Martinez; Molina, Romero, Lisandro Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, Lautaro Martinez

Here’s how you can watch Messi and Co. in action against Austria on Monday.

How to watch Argentina vs Austria live, stream link and start time

Kick off time: 1pm ET Monday (June 22)
Venue: AT&T Stadium — Dallas
TV Channel: Telemundo
Streaming: Stream live on Peacock, en Espanol

The Austrians did really well at EURO 2024 and were unlucky to not go deeper in the tournament.

Ralf Rangnick’s side press high, are well organized and have plenty of experience through the team with Marko Arnautovic, Marcel Sabitzer and David Alaba providing a great spine to the team.

Add in Konrad Laimer, Kevin Danso and Carney Chukwuemeka and there are some great players on this Austrian side.

If they make it out of the group, which they should, expect them to go on a fun run in the knockout rounds.

Lionel Messi came off in the second half against Algeria after he had already scored three goals and could have had a couple more.

He will surely start against Austria, but Argentina will be hoping the result is beyond doubt before the 60-minute mark so Messi can come off.

Argentina has plenty of quality on the bench to give Messi a break and managing his minutes is going to be crucial in this tournament.

It’s a very difficult balancing act, because, well, he’s Messi.