{"id":4768,"date":"2026-06-22T19:36:54","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T19:36:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4768"},"modified":"2026-06-22T19:36:54","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T19:36:54","slug":"messi-sets-world-cup-scoring-record-as-defending-champion-argentina-advances-to-knockout-stage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4768","title":{"rendered":"Messi sets World Cup scoring record as defending champion Argentina advances to knockout stage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n
Argentina\u2019s Lionel Messi (10) celebrates scoring his side\u2019s first goal against Austria with teammates during the World Cup Group J soccer match in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Monday, June 22, 2026. (AP Photo\/Tony Gutierrez)<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n

ARLINGTON, Texas \u2014 Lionel Messi set a World Cup<\/a> record with his 17th and 18th goals<\/a> , and defending champion Argentina advanced to the knockout stage with a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday.<\/p>

Read more Lionel Messi breaks World Cup scoring record with his 17th goal for Argentina<\/a><\/p>\n

Messi had a golden opportunity to break the record in the ninth minute, but went wide to the right on a penalty kick. Almost 30 minutes later, Messi caught Alexander Schlager leaning the wrong way after Thiago Almada let Facuno Medina\u2019s pass go by him directly onto Messi\u2019s left foot.<\/p>\n

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 even with Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals over four World Cups from 2002-14.<\/p>\n

Two days before his 39th birthday and with an ailing father back home<\/a> , Messi celebrated twice with teammates to the delight of the decidedly pro-Argentine crowd at the sold-out home of the NFL\u2019s Dallas Cowboys.<\/p>\n

Most of those fans were wearing Messi\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

The scoring record came 40 years to the day since Maradona\u2019s \u201cgoal of the century\u201d \u2014 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 quarterfinals in Mexico City. Argentina went on to win the title.<\/p>

Read more Federal judge rejects DOJ subpoenas issued to Gov. Walz, Minneapolis mayor<\/a><\/p>\n

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 since a shocking loss to Saudi Arabia in its 2022 opener in Qatar.<\/p>\n

Messi has scored all five of Argentina goals in the tournament and has 12 World Cup goals since turning 35. The eight-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner as soccer\u2019s best player in Europe had his first World Cup hat trick<\/a> in Argentina\u2019s 3-0<\/a> win over Algeria in its Group J opener last week in Kansas City.<\/p>\n

Austria, which opened with a 3-1 victory over Jordan, can advance with a win over Algeria on Saturday in Kansas City.<\/p>\n

Argentina returns to AT&T Stadium to face Jordan in a group finale Saturday night.<\/p>

Read more White Sox activate C Kyle Teel from IL and send C Edgar Quero to Triple-A Charlotte<\/a><\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP World Cup: https:\/\/apnews.com\/fifa-world-cup<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4766,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-interesting"],"yoast_head":"\nMessi sets World Cup scoring record as defending champion Argentina advances to knockout stage - Moving Insider USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movinginsiderusa.com\/?p=4768\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Messi sets World Cup scoring record as defending champion Argentina advances to knockout stage - 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