Messi sets World Cup scoring record as defending champion Argentina advances to knockout stage

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lionel Messi set a World Cup record with his 17th and 18th goals, and defending champion Argentina advanced to the knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday.

Messi had a golden opportunity to break the record in the ninth minute, but shot wide to the right from the penalty spot.

Almost 30 minutes later, Messi caught Alexander Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facundo Medina’s pass run through to Messi’s left foot.

In the waning seconds of injury time, Messi extended his record by sending a shot through several defenders after Schlager turned away his first attempt.

He entered the game level with Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals across four World Cups from 2002 to 2014.

Two days before his 39th birthday, and with his ailing father back home, Messi celebrated twice with teammates to the delight of the decidedly pro-Argentine crowd at the sold-out home of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Most of those fans were wearing Messi’s familiar No. 10 jersey with white and blue stripes, dwarfing the small pockets of red-clad Austrian supporters under the retractable roof that offered air-conditioned comfort on the second day of what is sure to be another hot Texas summer.

The scoring record came 40 years to the day after Maradona’s “Goal of the Century” — another No. 10 who made a solo run from the other side of midfield to give Argentina a two-goal lead in a 2-1 victory over England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals in Mexico City. Argentina went on to win the title.

Messi joined Just Fontaine and Jairzinho as the only players to score in six straight World Cup games. Argentina extended its winning streak in the tournament to eight matches since a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in its 2022 opener in Qatar.

Messi has scored all five of Argentina’s goals in the tournament and has 12 World Cup goals since turning 35. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, awarded to Europe’s best player, recorded his first World Cup hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria in its Group J opener last week in Kansas City.

Austria, which opened with a 3-1 victory over Jordan, can advance with a win over Algeria on Saturday in Kansas City.

Argentina returns to AT&T Stadium to face Jordan in its group-stage finale on Saturday night.

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