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Argentina vs Austria FIFA World Cup 2026 Live Score: ARG take on AUT in Texas. (AP)Lionel Messi has scored another goal after his record-breaking 17th goal at FIFA World Cups to drag Argentina into the Round of 32 with one game to spare in the group stages. Messi’s two goals came after he had missed a penalty kick early in the game in Argentina’s group stage clash with Austria at the FIFA World Cup 2026. Argentina won 2-0 against Austria, thanks to those two Messi goals. The win means Messi has won 18 matches a player, overtaking Miroslav Klose’s 17.
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What makes June 22 special for Argentina football fans: It was on June 22, 40 years ago that Diego Maradona, another Argentine football God, scored two of his most famous World Cup goals in Argentina’s 2-1 quarter-final victory over England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, This included the infamous Hand of God goal and the one known as the Goal of the Century. 40 years since that historic day, Messi has made history as the World Cup’s top goalscorer.
Here’s what Messi brings to the Argentina team: With his goal today against Austria, Messi has opened the scoring in seven of Argentina’s last nine World Cup fixtures. With the goal, Messi also became just the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive games after France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.
Messi was back in action with Argentina five days after thrashing Algeria 3-0 in a match where the little magician scored a hattrick. David Alaba and Co did their best to keep Messi quiet, even surrounding him with four players at times at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. But eventually, Messi pounced on a cross and slotted it into goal in the 38th minute past Austria’s Schlager, about half an hour after he had scuffed his penalty. This was Messi’s fourth goal in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026.
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Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Another record
Argentina's win over Austria means that as a player Messi has won 18 matches at the FIFA World Cup, overtaking Miroslav Klose's 17 World Cup victories.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CHANCE
After that second goal, Messi is still not done. He has one more shot at goal, which does not go in. If that had in fact gone in, Messi would have scored back to back hat-tricks in the first two games of Argentina (and that's despite missing a penalty today).
But right after that miss, we have the full-time whistle.
Argentina win 2-0. And they are through to the Round of 32 with a game to spare!
Once again, the story of Argentina’s title defence at this World Cup:
Games played: 2
Games won: 2
Total goals scored: 5
Goals scored by Messi: 5
Goals conceded: 0
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: MAGIC!
Lionel Messi weaves his magic again to score his, and Argentina's, second goal of the match.
Messi found himself wide on the right flank with the ball at his feet and no Argentine player anywhere close to him. He runs down the flank before cutting in and passing to Julian Alvarez, whose shot is smothered by the Austrian keeper. The ball comes to another teammate who passes to Messi in the box. Messi's first shot is blocked. Then, with four Austrian players in front of him, Messi finds the goal like threading a needle!
We had five minutes added on after the 90-minute mark. And Messi scores in the 95th minute!
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: We're approaching full time
So far the story of Argentina's title defence at this World Cup:
Games played: 2
Total goals scored: 4
Goals scored by Messi: 4
Goals conceded: 0
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CHANCE!
A late chance for Austria as Laimer hands the ball into the box and Arnautovic almost gets at the end of it, before being thwarted by Emi Martinez.
Still just one goal in this game.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Another stat
With his goal today against Austria, Lionel Messi has opened the scoring in seven of Argentina’s last nine World Cup fixtures
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: TEMPERS FLARE
Anger erupts between Argentina and Austria players after a rough tackle. Fecundo Medina gets a yellow for shoving a Austrian player on the ground after a rough tackle on a Argentine player.
Still just the one goal in this game as we cross over the 75 minute mark.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: 2nd hydration break
As we pause for the second hydration break, once again loud boos ring out in the Dallas Stadium. it's an airconditioned stadium. But FIFA's insistence at having these advertisement breaks, sorry hydration breaks, at all games is getting a little frustrating.
And the fans in the stands are for sure letting the organisers know about their ire.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: 60 minute mark
And the game's lost a bot of zip now after the half-time break. But we have a couple of Argentine players including Julian Alvarezand Gonzalez ready to be subbed on. So hopefully we will have some more frantic action soon.
Unless, Scaloni takes off Messi. In which case, booooo
The fans have their binocs out.
(EDITOR: Almada and Martinez are out, so Messi's staying guys!)
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Stat time
An insane stat from the official FIFA website
Argentina have now not been behind at the break in any of their last 20 World Cup matches, dating back to their 2010 quarter-final defeat by Germany.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Why June 22 is special for Argentina football fans
It was on June 22, 40 years ago that Diego Maradona, another Argentine football God, scored two of his most famous World Cup goals in Argentina's 2-1 quarter-final victory over England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, This included the infamous Hand of God goal and the one known as the Goal of the Century.
40 years since that historic day, Messi has made history as the World Cup's top goalscorer.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: What makes June 22 special for Argentina football fans
It was on June 22, 40 years ago that Diego Maradona, another Argentine football God, scored two of his most famous World Cup goals in Argentina's 2-1 quarter-final victory over England at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. This included the infamous Hand of God goal and the one known as the Goal of the Century. 40 years since that historic day, Messi has made history as the World Cup's top goalscorer.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Messi down on the pitch
Messi gets swept off his feet with a tackle on his left foot from Xaver Schlager. The Austrian is apologetic, and is lucky to escape a card for that.
Still 1-0 in favour of Argentina.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: HALF-TIME
Argentina lead 1-0 at half-time against Austria at Dallas Stadium. Messi was the centre of attention all half, be it from the Austrian defenders or from the fans in the stadium who waited with bated breath for him to score a record-breaking 17th World cup goal, gasped aloud when he missed a penalty early in the goal, and roared with glee when he finally scored!
Stay tuned, another half of Messi coming up.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Getting testy out there
As we approach half-time, things are starting to get heated in the middle after Messi's goal! it all started with Stefan Posch catching Thiago Almada in the face. After that foul, which earned Posch a yellow card, we have had a host of rough tackles from the Argentines, including from Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernandez and Lautaro Martinez! The Argentines get no cards however.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: HISTORY
Lionel Messi scores his record-breaking 17th goal at a World Cup. He shoots with his left foot, a curling effort past the diving keeper. And he's now the sole holder of the World Cup goalscoring record, with Germany's Miroslav Klose one goal behind at 16! READ MORE
Argentina lead 1-0
More history for Messi meanwhile: He's just the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive games after France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.
Messi is just two days away from his 39th birthday
CHECK OUT THE FULL LIST OF TOP GOALSCORERS AT FIFA WORLD CUP
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CHANCE
Another break for Argentina when three players find themselves in the Austrian box with the ball at their feet. But they squander it away!
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE:CHANCE!
Lionel Messi has another sight at goal. But his shot is blocked by David Alaba. Still chasing his record-breaking 17th World Cup goal.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CORNER
Austria are building up courage and mounting frequent attacks on the Argentine citadel. Only desperate defending from the Argentines keeping them goalless.
And we head into the hydration break with both teams level at 0-0.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: CHANCE
Messi finds the ball at his feet in the Austrian box. He's about to shoot when it is tackled away, the Austrian defender's clearance almost goes past the keeper into their own goal.
You can hear the collective sound of a stadium full of Argentina fans holding their breath whenever Messi gets the ball. They want him to score, they need him to score. But there are a bunch of 11 determined Austrians standing in the way who are not big on history.
After 20 minutes, Argentina 0-0 Austria
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Messi again and again
The ball seems attracted to Messi. Off an Austrian freekick in a dangerous position near the Argentine box, the ball is cleared and it finds itself in Messi's feet. Messi starts running with the ball, but is tackled. After a pinball in the middle, the ball is with Messi again, and this time as he starts to run, there are four Austrians huddling around him and they finally managed to nick the ball off of him. But once again, after the Argentina defence clears the ball, the ball is in Messi's feet. Once again, the ball is stolen off of him!
After 15 minutes, Argentina 0-0 Austria
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: MISSED PENALTY!
Messi steps up to take that penalty. Messi misses!!!!
The goalkeeper guessed right, but Messi was far off the target on the left-hand post, after a stop start run up.
He could have been the sole top goalscorer in the history of the FIFA World Cups with his 17th goal. Right now, he's tied at the top with Miroslav Klose, with both players having 16 goals!
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Penalty?
Lautaro Martinez barges into the Austria box in the third minute and he is hauled down by two defenders coming in from both his sides. And the on-field ref is not interested in a penalty. But the VAR is checking this one. Tricky one, since someone seemed to get a foot on the ball at some stage of that tackle. But Martinez is hobbling! He was caught for sure by both players, who converged on him like doors being shut on him.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Here we go!
Kickoff in Dallas Stadium. Argentina rocking their traditional blue and white striped jerseys while Australia are in their deep reds.
Argentina with a 4-4-2 while Austria have a 4-2-3-1.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Minutes away from kickoff
Here we go! The second sighting of Lionel Messi awaits! In the first one, he scored a hat-trick, and became the joint top scorer in World Cups.
What can we expect today? We will know soon enough.
The players are walking out for the national anthems. Big game coming up.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: Why Messi got emotional
In Argentina's FIFA World Cup opener against Algeria, Messi scored a hat-trick. But when he scored his first goal of the night, he was spotted crying and dabbing away his tears with his jersey.
It was revealed after the game that his father, Jorge, has been battling some undisclosed health issues.
Argentina vs Austria, FIFA World Cup LIVE: On Austria
Argentina have never faced World No 21 Austria. So this promises to be unchartered territory for both sides. Argentina, of course, are the defending champions coming into this World Cup.
Argentina vs Austria World Cup LIVE: One change for ARG
A single change from Lionel Scaloni. It's an expected one. The Argentina coach brings in Nahuel Molina at right-back in place of Gonzalo Montiel because of the latter's muscle strain.
Messi, of course, wearing the captain's armband.
We're an hour away from kick-off!
Argentina vs Austria World Cup LIVE: Check out the subs
Argentina: Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Tagliafico, Montiel, Otamendi, Paredes, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, Gonzalez, Alvarez, Simeone, Paz, Lopez
Austria: Wiegele, Pentz, Affengruber, Lienhart, Mwene, Friedl, Svoboda, Grillitsch, Chukwuemeka, Ljubicic, Prass, Schoepf, Arnautovic, Kalajdzic, Wimmer
ARG vs AUT FIFA World Cup LIVE: Lineups announced
Argentina: Martinez, Martinez, Romero, Medina, Molina, De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Messi, Almada, Martinez
Austria: Schlager, Danso, Posch, Alaba, Schlager, Seiwald, Sabitzer, Schmid, Laimer, Wanner, Gregoritsch
Argentina vs Austria World Cup LIVE: Round of 32 awaits the winners
The equation for both teams tonight is simple. Win and book a place in the Round of 32. Argentina and Austria both have a win each with the La Albiceleste winning 3-0 vs Algeria while Das Team also slammed 3-1 vs Jordan.
ARG vs AUT FIFA World Cup LIVE: The Messi red card controversy
There was a bit of controversy surrounding Messi in the Algeria match. In the 32nd minute while challenging for the ball, Messi's studs caught Algerian captain Aïssa Mandi on the right calf who fell to the ground, writhing in pain. Polish referee Szymon Marciniak awarded a foul while VAR did not intervene.
“It’s a 100 per cent red card for Lionel Messi. It should have been,” he said. “We don’t even have to see the still. If you see the live video, it felt like a bad challenge. Then you see the replay — this is a bad challenge. Why was Marciniak not called over to review it? You’re raking the back of somebody’s calf all the way up from the knee down to the ankle. It should have been a red card. It plays along this narrative that great players get preferential treatment,” former Venezuelan international Alejandro Moreno said on ESPN.
Argentina vs Austria World Cup LIVE: The WC top goal-scorers table
ARG vs AUT FIFA World Cup LIVE: The tournament so far
June 12: Mexico 2-0 South Africa
June 12: South Korea 2-1 Czechia
June 13: Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 13: USA 4-1 Paraguay
June 14: Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
June 14: Brazil 1-1 Morocco
June 14: Haiti 0-1 Scotland
June 14: Australia 2-0 Turkey
June 14: Germany 7-1 Curacao
June 15: Netherlands 2-2 Japan
June 15: Ivory Coast 1-0 Ecuador
June 15: Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
June 15: Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
June 16: Belgium 1-1 Egypt
June 16: Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
June 16: Iran 2-2 New Zealand
June 17: France 3-1 Senegal
June 17: Iraq 1-4 Norway
June 17: Argentina 3-0 Algeria
June 17: Austria 3-1 Jordan
June 17: Portugal 1-1 Congo
June 18: England 4-2 Croatia
June 18: Ghana 1-0 Panama
June 18: Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia
June 18: Czechia 1-1 South Africa
June 19: Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 19: Canada 6-0 Qatar
June 19: Mexico 1-0 South Korea
June 20: USA 2-0 Australia
June 20: Scotland 0-1 Morocco
June 20: Brazil 3-0 Haiti
June 20: Turkey 0-1 Paraguay
June 20: Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
June 21: Germany 2-1 Ivory Coast
June 21: Ecuador 0-0 Curacao
June 21: Tunisia 0-4 Japan
June 21: Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia
June 22: Belgium 0-0 Iran
June 22: Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde
June 22: New Zealand 1-3 Egypt
Argentina vs Austria World Cup LIVE: Check out the 12 groups
Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Republic of Korea, Czechia
Group B: Canada, Switzerland, Qatar, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Scotland, Haiti
Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Turkey
Group E: Germany, Ecuador, Ivory Coast, Curaçao
Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Sweden, Tunisia
Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand
Group H: Spain, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Cape Verde
Group I: France, Senegal, Norway, Iraq
Group J: Argentina, Austria, Algeria, Jordan
Group K: Portugal, Colombia, DR Congo, Uzbekistan
Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama
ARG vs AUT FIFA World Cup LIVE: Does Messi care about the stats?
With all the chatter around if Messi will be able to break the long-standing record of Miroslav Klose and become the highest goal scorer in World Cup history, his long-time team-mate Rodrigo de Paul opened up on how the Argentine captain sees these stats.
“I swear he doesn’t care. Sometimes we’ll be in a room drinking mate and we’ll tell him ‘hey man, you’re just one away or two away’ or whatever. And I swear he has no idea. I don’t know how that works. He’s an animal. What makes me the happiest is that I feel like he’s enjoying it. That he doesn’t feel the weight of the pressure that he felt for so long. Everyone knows his mentality. He doesn’t let himself enjoy things much because he’s always focused on helping us and the team. But I see him good now, I see him happy. That’s contagious among the group,” Rodrigo De Paul said after the Algeria match.
Argentina vs Austria World Cup LIVE: Messi vs Ronaldo first matches comparison
Productivity:
Messi attempted 6 shots vs Algeria, 4 were on target with a conversion rate of 66.7%
Ronaldo attempted 3 shots vs DR Congo with 0 shots on target
Game involvement:
Messi had 57 touches vs Algeria
Ronaldo had just 25 vs Congo
Creativity:
Messi tried 15 line break attempts
Ronaldo tried just one
Mobility:
Ronaldo ran 8.39 km
Messi ran 6.81 km.
ARG vs AUT FIFA World Cup LIVE: Check out the matches of Group J
June 17: Argentina 3-0 Algeria
June 17: Austria 3-1 Jordan
June 22: Argentina vs Austria
June 22: Jordan vs Algeria
June 28: Argentina vs Jordan
June 28: Austria vs Algeria
Argentina vs Austria World Cup LIVE: Check out Group J's points table
ARG vs AUT FIFA World Cup LIVE: About those three goals vs Algeria
In the last match against Algeria, even as Lionel Messi danced his way through the opposition defence, the familiar chants of 'Messi, Messi, Messi' filled the air. The first goal was curled into the top corner with the grace of an artist before the second one displayed a poacher's finish. The third and final one was more about his balance where he unleashed one from the edge of the box and the ball nestled into the back of the net. (READ MORE FROM SANDIP G WHO FIRSTHAND BORE WITNESS TO THE MAGIC)
Argentina vs Austria World Cup LIVE: Head to head
Matches played: 2
Argentina won: 1
Austria won: 0
Draw: 1
ARG vs AUT FIFA World Cup LIVE: Messi on the precipice of history
Ahead of the match vs Austria, Messi stands on the precipice of history. Against Algeria, he scored a hattrick which drew him level with the German icon Miroslav Klose with both players now having 16 goals in the World Cup. If the Argentine wizard scores tonight, he will claim the record of the highest ever goal scorer in World Cup history.
Argentina vs Austria World Cup LIVE: Predicted lineups
Argentina: Martinez, Molina, Romero, Otamendi, Medina, De Paul, MacAllister, Fernandez, Gonzalez, Messi, Alvarez
Austria: Schlager, Posch, Lienhart, Danso, Alaba, Chukwuemeka, Seiwald, Schmid, Laimer, Sabitzer, Arnautovic
ARG vs AUT FIFA World Cup LIVE: Hello and welcome
Lionel Messi will once again be in action as Argentina take on Austria in their second World Cup 2026 match. In the last match vs Austria, Messi began the World Cup with a bang as the little magician slammed his first-ever World Cup hattrick. Austria, meanwhile, are also coming off a 3-1 win against Jordan and are likely to pose more of a challenge to Argentina than Algeria. All to play for tonight. Follow us live to find out who comes out on top tonight.
Lionel Messi has dominated Cristiano Ronaldo across all facets during the opening World Cup 2026 round last week. (AP Photo)
Yin & Yang: A statistical breakdown of Messi & Ronaldo’s first World Cup games
Messi’s hat-trick in the defending champions’ 3-0 romp over Algeria was contrasted with the sorry figure the Portuguese superstar cut in 1-1 draw with underdogs Democratic Republic of Congo. With the two legends on the final legs of their careers, we analyse why. (READ MORE)
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