Buoyed by goals from Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez, Argentina survived a late push from Australia to advance to the World Cup quarterfinals with a 2–1 win.
Every game from here on could be Messi’s last on the World Cup stage, and the superstar played like it by leading La Albiceleste’s charge until the very last minute. At his fifth World Cup, the 35-year-old was brilliant, slicing through Australia’s defense with a handful of highlight reel runs while scoring his first-ever goal in the World Cup knockout stage.
Yet after going down 2–0 on a goalkeeper error in the second half, Australia bounced back quickly with a goal of its own and multiple close chances that were nearly equalizers, including a hectic final scramble that required a brilliant save from Emiliano Martínez to secure the win.
