Argentina moved to the brink of qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup knockout stage after defeating Austria 2-0 in Arlington, with Lionel Messi once again writing football history.
Although the Argentine captain missed a first-half penalty, he responded in trademark fashion by scoring twice to reach 18 career World Cup goals, overtaking Miroslav Klose and becoming the competition’s outright all-time leading scorer.
Argentina Player Ratings
Emiliano Martinez – 7.5/10
Barely troubled during the opening period but remained alert whenever called upon. Produced an important second-half save to preserve another clean sheet.
Nahuel Molina – 4.5/10
An underwhelming return to the starting lineup. Struggled in possession and rarely influenced the game going forward.
Lisandro Martinez – 7/10
Calm, composed and dependable throughout. Read the game well and dealt comfortably with Austria’s limited attacking threat.
Cristian Romero – 6.5/10
Controlled the defensive line before being forced off through injury early in the second half. Argentina will hope the knock is not serious.
Facundo Medina – 7/10
Delivered another solid display at left-back and played an important role in the build-up to Messi’s opening goal.
Enzo Fernandez – 7/10
Controlled possession with intelligence and dictated the tempo in midfield from start to finish.
Alexis Mac Allister – 7/10
Quietly excellent. Linked defence and attack effectively while providing balance throughout Argentina’s midfield.
Rodrigo De Paul – 6/10
Worked tirelessly and contributed defensively, although his passing lacked its usual sharpness.
Thiago Almada – 8/10
One of Argentina’s brightest performers. His clever movement and brilliant assist for Messi’s opener unlocked the Austrian defence, while his work rate without the ball remained outstanding.
Lionel Messi – 9.5/10 ⭐ Man of the Match
A missed penalty did little to affect his confidence. Responded with two clinical finishes, produced moments of brilliance throughout the contest and rewrote World Cup history by becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals.
Lautaro Martinez – 7/10
Won the penalty, occupied Austria’s defenders brilliantly and worked tirelessly across the front line despite not finding the scoresheet.
Argentina Substitutes
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Nicolas Otamendi | 6/10 |
| Julian Alvarez | 6.5/10 |
| Nico Gonzalez | 5.5/10 |
| Leandro Paredes | 6/10 |
| Nicolas Tagliafico | N/A |
Austria Player Ratings
Alexander Schlager – 7.5/10
Austria’s standout performer. Produced several impressive saves and prevented the scoreline from becoming much heavier.
David Alaba – 6/10
Organised the defence well for long periods and made an important late intervention to deny Messi a hat-trick.
Marcel Sabitzer – 7/10
Austria’s biggest attacking threat. Constantly looked to create chances and caused Argentina the most problems whenever possession reached him.
Rest of the Austria Squad
Most of Austria’s players worked hard defensively but struggled to create meaningful opportunities against Argentina’s organised back line. Their pressing was effective in spells, yet they lacked the quality needed in the final third to seriously trouble Emiliano Martinez.
Final Verdict
Argentina delivered another controlled performance to move within touching distance of the Round of 32, but the evening belonged entirely to Lionel Messi.
Missing a penalty would have unsettled most players. Instead, the Argentine captain responded with two goals, another Player of the Match display and one of the greatest milestones in football history.
With five goals already in two matches and Argentina looking increasingly balanced across the pitch, Lionel Scaloni’s side are beginning to resemble genuine favourites for another World Cup crown.
