There are dates destined to be etched in the memory of Argentine soccer. June 22 was already synonymous with Diego Maradona and his unforgettable performance against England at Mexico 1986, but four decades later, Lionel Messi wrote a new golden chapter by becoming the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
La Albiceleste defeated Austria 2-0 at Dallas Stadium thanks to a brace by their captain, who reached 18 goals across six World Cups and surpassed the record held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose since Brazil 2014.
This historic achievement also secured Argentina’s spot in the next round and the chance to finish first in Group J—provided Algeria does not lose to Jordan—a scenario that would allow them to avoid an early matchup with Spain.
The match, however, did not start off on the right foot for the Argentine star. Just nine minutes in, he missed a penalty kick by sending his shot wide of the goal defended by Alexander Schlager, adding another miss from the penalty spot at a World Cup, as had previously happened against Iceland in 2018 and Poland in 2022.
Before the match, the stadium’s giant screen showed the South Americans as heavy favorites with an 84-16 prediction, while Messi took the field with a defiant look as “Matador” played in the background.
Argentina created danger from the opening minutes and claimed a penalty on Lautaro Martínez that was ultimately reviewed by VAR, though the captain was unable to capitalize on the opportunity. He then had two other clear chances that were thwarted by Schlager and a timely deflection by David Alaba.
With Messi looking dejected and Austria relying on physical play to unsettle the world champions, memories of past setbacks began to surface. But the outcome was destined for the number ten.
In the final stretch of the match, a give-and-go between Thiago Almada and Medina ended with a back pass that Almada let run through for Messi to finish, sealing the goal that made him the new all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
There was still room for one more stroke of genius. As the match drew to a close, the captain launched a swift counterattack down the left, set up Julián Álvarez, and, after the goalkeeper’s save, popped up again to cross the ball and seal the final 2-0 score.
Forty years after Maradona’s masterpiece against England, another June 22 was once again painted in sky blue and white. This time, it was Lionel Messi who wrote a historic chapter, reaching a milestone that places him at the top of the World Cup all-time scoring list and reaffirming his place among soccer’s greatest legends.
