Lionel Messi wrote himself further into footballing history as he became the all-time leading World Cup goalscorer during Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria in Arlington, Texas. The 39-year-old was just one goal away from surpassing the great Miroslav Klose, and the Inter Miami forward notched both goals at the AT&T Stadium to smash the record as the holders topped Group J.
He was handed an early opportunity to break the record from the spot as Lautaro Martinez was fouled by Stefan Posch, in a decision overturned by VAR. Messi uncharactersitically missed from 12 yards, slotting wide of the post, but he had his moment later in the first half, sweeping home past Alexander Schlager after a flowing Argentine move.
He doubled his tally in second-half stoppage time, persisting after being denied not once but twice by a resolute Austrian defence, as he forced home the goal that killed an otherwise lacklustre game. Lionel Scaloni’s holders top Group J, and will progress into the knockout rounds as group winners. Messi has scored all five of his country’s goals in this summer’s competition.
Argentina vs Austria latest updates
- GOAL! Messi doubles tally late
- GOAL! Messi opens scoring to break record
- GOOD SAVE! Schlager denies Messi
- PENALTY MISS! Messi shoots wide from spot
FT: Argentina 2-0 Austria
20:03 , Oli Gent
There we have it.
Argentina top Group J, and are two wins from two.
Thanks for joining us on Standard Sport, be sure to come back soon for even more LIVE action.
Goal! Argentina 2-0 Austria
20:00 , Oli Gent
90+5 mins: It’s two at the death, and Messi has his second.
18 World Cup goals for the greatest to ever do it, as he is denied not once but twice, but he doesn’t give up, and he forces it home at the third time of asking!
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:57 , Oli Gent
90+2 mins: Time is ticking away and Argentina top the group as it stands. Messi’s goal the difference.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:55 , Oli Gent
90 mins: Five added minutes.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:51 , Oli Gent
88 mins: Chance! Gonzalez breaks clear and has a chance to seal it, but he’s thwarted at the last by Schlager!
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:50 , Oli Gent
86 mins: Former Chelsea midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka is on, replacing Gregoritsch.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:47 , Oli Gent
83 mins: Final knockings of this game. It’s not been the thriller that the neutrals had hoped for. Can the Austrians find an equaliser?
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:43 , Oli Gent
80 mins: Wimmer replaces Schmid.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:41 , Oli Gent
78 mins: Yellow cards apiece for Medina and Laimer after a coming together between the two. A push from Laimer, and some afters between the pair.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:40 , Oli Gent
75 mins: 15 minutes to play. Can the holders kill this game off?
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:32 , Oli Gent
71 mins: Triple change for Austria as Friedl, Prass and Arnautovic come on for Wanner, Posch and Alaba.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:32 , Oli Gent
69 mins: Close! Sabitzer swings in a cross and Gregoritsch makes contact with the header, but he can only nod over the top.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:30 , Oli Gent
67 mins: Messi tries a pot-shot from the edge of the area as he rides a couple of challenges, and Schlager scrambles across his line to tip the low effort behind.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:29 , Oli Gent
66 mins: Alvarez and Gonzalez replace Almada and Martinez.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:26 , Oli Gent
63 mins: We’ve not seen much of Enzo Fernandez today, but the Chelsea star is involved here as it’s worked out to the left. He takes a touch and takes aim, and Danso blocks, but the Tottenham defender is a bit winded!
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:22 , Oli Gent
60 mins: Otamendi replaces Romero.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:22 , Oli Gent
58 mins: Free kick, Argentina. Martinez holds up the ball well but is chopped down.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:20 , Oli Gent
55 mins: Sabitzer has a go from the angle... and Martinez beats it away. One for the cameras.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:19 , Oli Gent
54 mins: Austria just haven’t been able to get going in attack so far, but they have another chance with a free kick given away by Romero on Wanner.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:15 , Oli Gent
51 mins: Messi is through on goal as Martinez turns over possession and Argentina get it forward quickly. He’s in here, but Seiwald tracks back and puts him off as he looks to round Schlager!
Argentina 1-0 Austria
19:13 , Oli Gent
49 mins: Messi is being afforded space to waft and pick up the ball as he pleases at present. Rangnick won’t like that. What will he do about it?
Kick off!
19:10 , Oli Gent
46 mins: Back underway.
HT: Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:53 , Oli Gent
There’s the interval, and what everyone wanted to happen has happened.
Argentina go in on top, thanks to their magic man, who reprieves himself after that penalty miss.
What will the second half have in store?
Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:48 , Oli Gent
45+3 mins: Free kick, Austria. There is coming between Martinez and Laimer, and the Argentine striker protest his innocence in vain.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:46 , Oli Gent
45 mins: Seven added minutes.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:42 , Oli Gent
41 mins: Posch is shown a yellow after a shoulder barge on Almada.
Goal! Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:40 , Oli Gent
39 mins: There it is, the history maker! They move it quickly down the left, and Messi coming onto it sweeps it home! He’s the all-time World Cup goalscorer.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:39 , Oli Gent
38 mins: A slower period of the game as Argentina take charge of possession. Can they find that elusive opener?
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:36 , Oli Gent
35 mins: Messi is trying to unpick the Austrian defence with his intricate passing and moving, but it’s just not working out for the greatest of all time so far.
He really does want that record...
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:33 , Oli Gent
32 mins: Close! They’re getting nearer. A glorious touch from Messi to get it into the path of Almada. It comes back to him, but Alaba blocks as Seiwald challenges from behind!
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:31 , Oli Gent
30 mins: Mac Allister is sporting a new buzz cut today. Looks a bit weird, I must say...
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:28 , Oli Gent
27 mins: Back after the hydration break as both sides get a chance to regroup. What will be going through Messi’s head right now?
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:24 , Oli Gent
24 mins: It’s well defended by Argentina, who get it clear.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:24 , Oli Gent
23 mins: Corner, Austria. Posch gets his head up and crosses from deep, and Romero nods behind. Another chance for Sabitzer to deliver.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:20 , Oli Gent
20 mins: That could have been the moment! Messi goes through on goal and dallies, feinting before moving inside, and he’s eventually denied by the leg of Schlager!
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:20 , Oli Gent
19 mins: Austria are carrying some threat when they come forward. They may not have the star quality that their opponents do, but it’s the sheer pace and guile they come forward at.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:16 , Oli Gent
16 mins: Sabitzer goes low, but that’s a poor delivery.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:15 , Oli Gent
15 mins: Free kick, Austria. Laimer takes the quick throw, and Wanner is chopped down just outside the area by Mac Allister. Chance here.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:13 , Oli Gent
12 mins: An Austria free kick that Alaba is over from just inside the Argentina half. The captain floats it towards Danso who wins it, but Martinez clears.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:10 , Oli Gent
9 mins: He’s missed it! He’s put it wide!
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:09 , Oli Gent
8 mins: Penalty! It is a spot kick for the holders, and Messi has got a very early opportunity for his moment of history.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:08 , Oli Gent
7 mins: VAR are actually having a look at Posch’s challenge here... and now the referee is going to have a look and see if this is a penalty!
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:06 , Oli Gent
6 mins: Martinez is down after the Argentines cut through the Austrian press and he bears down on goal... but Posch slides in at the last!
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:04 , Oli Gent
4 mins: As expected from the Austrians, as soon as they lose the ball, they’re onto the World Cup holders. Gregoritsch leads the press, with Schmid, Wanner and Sabizter the next wave.
Kick off!
18:01 , Oli Gent
1 min: We’re underway.
Five minute warning!
17:55 , Oli Gent
The players are out, and it’s time for the anthems.
Ten minutes to kick off
17:50 , Oli Gent
Who will win this one?
17:45 , Oli Gent
Warm-ups! 🐐
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) June 22, 2026
LIVE: https://t.co/KidDwCMoub#ARGAUT | #FIFAWorldCup | #2026WorldCup pic.twitter.com/V9qv9tl5nq
Set piece kings
17:37 , Oli Gent
Marko Arnautovic’s goal against Jordan - a stoppage-time penalty - was Austria’s seventh set-piece goal in their last 10 at World Cup games.
Can they make the most of the dead ball again tonight?
Half an hour to kick off!
17:30 , Oli Gent
Here are the two teams once more for those that missed them...
Argentina XI: E Martinez; Molina, Romero, L Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, Martinez
Austria XI: Schlager; Posch, Danso, Alaba, Laimer; Seiwald, Schlager; Schmid, Wanner, Sabitzer; Gregoritsch
Fans en masse!
17:23 , Oli Gent
Eine Stunde vorm Start, alle fiebern #ARGAUT entgegen. Public Viewing im Alten AKH, schon jetzt zum Brechen voll. ⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Ek8DzOobVc
— Omichrom (@austrocom) June 22, 2026
Racking up the numbers
17:12 , Oli Gent
Former Premier League star Marko Arnautovic is Austria’s main man up top - but he has had to settle for a supersub role at the World Cup so far.
He is his country’s all-time top goalscorer, and he extended his record to 48 goals with his strike against Jordan on matchday one.
Austria lineup analysed
17:05 , Oli Gent
Strong from Rangnick, who has a history of not backing down amid his ‘Godfather of the Gegenpress’ reputation.
That is likely to be on full show here, with pressing monsters Schmid, Wanner and Sabitzer all prepared to do the donkey work behind focal point Gregoritsch.
Konrad Laimer is at left-back, and he will have full licence to invert and maraud where he pleases when Austria have the ball.
Argentina lineup analysed
16:58 , Oli Gent
So, one change for Scaloni, with the injured Gonzalo Montiel, who suffered a hamstring problem against Algeria. He is replaced at right-back by Nahuel Molina.
It remains to be seen how Lautaro Martinez does with Julian Alvarez still on the bench, and Thiago Almada continues on the left with Nico Gonzalez pushing to start.
Austria lineup
16:50 , Oli Gent
Austria XI: Schlager; Posch, Danso, Alaba, Laimer; Seiwald, Schlager; Schmid, Wanner, Sabitzer; Gregoritsch
Subs: Wiegele, Pentz, Affengruber, Lienhart, Mwene, Friedl, Svoboda, Grillitsch, Chukwuemeka, Ljubicic, Wimmer, Schopf, Arnautovic, Kalajdzic
Argentina lineup
16:45 , Oli Gent
Argentina XI: E Martinez; Molina, Romero, L Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez, Almada; Messi, Martinez
Subs: Musso, Rulli, Senesi, Tagliafico, Otamendi, Paredes, Barco, Lo Celso, Palacios, Gonzalez, Simeone, Paz, Lopez, Alvarez
Time for the lineups!
16:42 , Oli Gent
Hold your hats...
Last time out
16:37 , Oli Gent
... for Austria, they defeated Jordan 3-1 in their opening game.
It was their tenth win in their last 12, and their first at the World Cup in 36 years.
They are looking for back-to-back victories on the global stage for the first time since 1982! Can they shock the world tonight?
More history on horizon
16:32 , Oli Gent
A goal for Lionel Messi would also see the Argentina become only the third player, after Just Fontaine and Jairzinho to score in six successive World Cup games.
Stat attack
16:25 , Oli Gent
Lionel Messi still needs only one more assist to become the outright assist leader in World Cup history, where he is currently tied on eight with the late and great Diego Maradona.
Wreck it Ralf!
16:17 , Oli Gent
A familiar face is in the Austria dugout at this World Cup.
It is the former Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick, who oversaw the Red Devils after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sacked in the 2021/22 season.
He has been in charge of Austria since he left United in 2022, despite having an agreement to move upstairs upon the end of his caretakership.
He led them to the round of 16 at Euro 2024, but they were stunned 2-1 by Turkey.
Head to head
16:10 , Oli Gent
Argentina wins: 1
Austria wins: 1
Draws: 1
Messi is out to make history
16:03 , Alex Young
Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe will face off tonight in a bid to break the World Cup record for goals.
Messi, 38, became the joint-record scorer at the World Cup on 16 goals after he opened his campaign with a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria.
Mbappe, 27, netted a brace against Senegal to take his total to 14 World Cup goals and secure a 3-1 win for Les Bleus.
If Messi scores at least once tonight, he will break Miroslav Klose’s record - the German broke Ronaldo Nazario’s with a goal in the 7-1 semi-final victory over Brazil in 2014.
Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup campaign - joint-highest with Cristiano Ronaldo - and his 16 goals have come in 27 games.
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Argentina vs Austria prediction
15:55 , Alex Young
With progression to the round of 32 at stake, this should be an open game.
That said, those in attendance at Dallas Stadium and others watching around the world only want to see one thing: Messi become the all-time World Cup top scorer.
We think he will get at least one goal to move above Klose in the standings, leading his nation to a narrow win over Austria.
Argentina to win, 2-1.
Early Austria team news
15:50 , Alex Young
Austria could change things around for the showdown against the reigning world champions, with Tottenham defender Kevin Danso pushing for a start which could see captain David Alaba move out to left-back.
Veteran forward Marko Arnautovic came off the bench to score against Jordan in stoppage time, but it remains to be seen if he will be upgraded to a starter.
Early Argentina team news
15:45 , Alex Young
Gonzalo Montiel has been ruled out of Argentina’s second game through injury, meaning Scaloni will be forced into at least one change from the win over Algeria.
Nahuel Molina is the most likely replacement at right-back, while Julian Alvarez is pushing to join Messi in attack, replacing Lautaro Martinez.
Where to watch Argentina vs Austria for FREE
15:40 , Alex Young
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live and free-to-air on BBC One, with coverage starting at 5.30pm BST.
Live stream: UK viewers can also catch the contest live online via the BBC iPlayer or the BBC Sport website.
Free highlights: World Cup highlights are available on FIFA’s official YouTube channel, along with the BBC iPlayer, ITVX app and their websites.
Argentina vs Austria LIVE
15:35 , Alex Young
Good afternoon and welcome to the London Standard’s LIVE coverage of the 2026 World Cup clash between Argentina and Austria.
It is Argentina’s toughest-looking group-stage test, and could see Lionel Messi make history. More on that later.
Kick-off at the AT&T Stadium is at 6pm UK time. Stick with us.
