Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates his second goal as Austria midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka (17) looks down in the second half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
As is often the case, Lionel Messi was the story Monday at Dallas Stadium.
The legendary forward from Argentina etched another indelible chapter in his historic career with a record-setting brace that made him the World Cup’s all-time top scorer with 18 goals, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose (16). He now has a tournament-leading five goals through two games as Argentina punched its ticket to the knockout rounds with a 2-0 win over Austria.
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with teammate Enzo Fernández (24) after scoring goal past Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager (1) in the first half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) stands with teammates during the national anthem before a World Cup Group J soccer match against Austria on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi attempts a penalty kick against Austria in the first half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager dives for a wide shot by Argentina forward Lionel Messi during first half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi reacts after he missed a penalty kick against Austria in the first half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager (right) and Austria defender David Alaba celebrate a missed goal attempt by Argentina forward Lionel Messi during first half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Supporters watch as Argentina’s Lionel Messi misses a penalty kick against Austria in the first half at an invite-only watch party at Argentina 163, a restaurant/bar in Euless, Texas, June 22, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Austria fans cheer in the first half of a World Cup Group J soccer match against Argentina on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) controls the ball against Austria defender David Alaba (8) in the first half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
A shot by Argentina forward Lionel Messi makes it past Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager during first half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with midfielder Enzo Fernández following his goal during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026 , at Dallas Stadium in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina players celebrates a goal by forward Lionel Messi (10) during first half of Monday’s FIFA World Cup match featuring Argentina and Austria in Arlington, June 22, 2026.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with teammate Enzo Fernández (24) after scoring goal past Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager (1) in the first half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Supporters of Argentina, including Ines Adami of Dallas (left), celebrate Lionel Messi’s record for FIFA World Cup’s most goals during an invite-only watch party at Argentina 163, a restaurant/bar in Euless, Texas, June 22, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) is fouled as Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager (4) follows on the play during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) reacts after missing a shot past Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager (1) during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) sprints past Austria midfielder Xaver Schlager (4) during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) attempts a shot on goal during the second half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi is seen during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match against Austria, on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) fights for possession against Austria defender Marco Friedl during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Austria midfielder Konrad Laimer (20) pushes Argentina midfielder Nico Gonzalez (15) to the pitch and receives a yellow card during the second half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi dribbles up the field during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match against Austria, on Monday, June 22, 2026 ,in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina supporter cheer forward Lionel Messi during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match against Austria, on Monday, June 22, 2026 ,in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager (1) and defender Marco Friedl (23) defend a shot by Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) during the second half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Austria midfielder Konrad Laimer (20) presses Argentina forward Nicolás González during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Austria defender Kevin Danso heads the ball over Argentina defender Nicolás Tagliafico (3) and forward Nicolás González during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) scores his side’s second goal between legs of Austria midfielder Nicolas Seiwald (6) during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) scores his side’s second goal between legs of Austria midfielder Nicolas Seiwald (6) during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) scores his side’s second goal between legs of Austria midfielder Nicolas Seiwald (6) during the first half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates his second goal against Austria in the second half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi high fives media after scoring a second time during a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina supporter Katherin Fuentes of Irving reacts to a late goal by Lionel Messi while watching a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match against Austria at the Dallas FIFA Fan Festival on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates a goal with midfielder Leandro Paredes (5) during the second half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) celebrates with his teammates after scoring his second goal during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match against Austria, on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Alejandra Ochoa of Hurst reacts with fellow Argentina supporters after Lionel Messi scored his second goal of the match against Austria during an invite-only watch party at Argentina 163, a restaurant/bar in Euless, Texas, June 22, 2026.
Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (left) celebrates a goal with teammates during the second half of a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Fans and Argentina bench players celebrate as forward Lionel Messi (10) is surrounded after scoring his side’s second goal during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina forward Lionel Messi (10) is surrounded by teammates after scoring his side’s second goal during the second half of a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Angela Piazza/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes (center) hugs midfielder Alexis Mac Allister (20) and forward Lionel Messi (10) following their side’s victory over Austria in a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina fans celebrate following their side’s victory over Austria in a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Shafkat Anowar/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina players cerebrate their 2-0 victory over Austria after a World Cup Group J soccer match on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Arlington.
Chitose Suzuki/The Dallas Morning News
Argentina supporters hold up a cutout of Lionel Messi as they depart after watching a FIFA World Cup Group J soccer match victory over Austria at the Dallas FIFA Fan Festival on Monday, June 22, 2026, in Dallas.
Smiley N. Pool/The Dallas Morning News
After the match, he briefly spoke to the media in the stadium’s mixed zone. Here is a translation of his full comments, lightly edited for clarity:
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Leo, what does it mean to you to have scored five goals in these first two matches, and what do you feel when you bring so much joy to the Argentine people?
Lionel Messi: “Happiness. Obviously, a lot of happiness. Above all because of the victory. It was a very hard-fought win. We knew it was going to be a match played at a very high intensity, and that we couldn’t let up even in the slightest because they were very intense. So, I’m happy. Happy with the result, with qualifying (for the knockouts). It was important for us to get all six (points) so we could have a calmer week, and that’s it — I’m pleased.”
In just two matches, you’ve scored five goals. You’ve already put behind all the discussion we were going to have about whether or not you’d catch Klose — you’ve actually surpassed him. And in two matches, Argentina has also secured qualification. Was that part of your expectations, or did things go even better than planned?
Messi: “Obviously, winning both matches was part of our plans. We knew it wasn’t going to be easy, especially given how this World Cup has gone, with every match being very even.
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As I said last time, nobody gives you anything. We saw that again today. There was a lot of intensity. At times, we struggled to maintain the long spells of possession that we like. It’s true that they didn’t really hurt us either, but it was a very tight, very intense match where it was difficult to play. We had to move the ball very quickly, and at times we managed to do that.
But the important thing was qualifying. Obviously, it’s always in our plans to win every match. We’re Argentina, and we’re always going to go after every game regardless of the opponent. But we know it’s not easy, and you have to prove it on the field. I think Argentina did that today.”
At this stage of your career, it seems like every day is special for you. Every match also seems special. What we didn’t expect was that every match would be special for everyone else too — for the spectators, for us — when you score five goals in two World Cup matches. You have to search far and wide to find statistics like that. Do you experience each day here as something special as well?
Messi: “I think we all experience it that way. This entire group, this entire roster, feels that way and has felt that way throughout this whole period. Whenever this group gets together — whether for official competitions or friendly matches — we enjoy being together, we enjoy competing, training, and the day-to-day. And we also enjoy seeing the people like this, being able to give them this kind of happiness.
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Thanks to God we’ve already been able to give them several joyful moments, and we’ll try to keep this momentum going, to stay on the same wavelength as the fans, who are also full of hope. And as I just said, I’ll repeat it: it is step by step. This is a long and difficult journey. We have to prepare for each match the way we always do, regardless of the opponent or the circumstances.
And yes, I experience it as something special, just as I always have. Like I told you before, I enjoy playing and having a good time on the field. Today there was a moment when I was very frustrated because of the penalty — I missed it and struck it very badly. But fortunately, we were able to turn the situation around, take the lead, and come away with the three points, which is the most important thing.”