Lionel Messi scored twice against Austria on Monday to become the men's World Cup's all-time leading scorer. His double earned Argentina a 2-0 win in Dallas and a place in the last 32.
Lionel Messi scored twice against Austria on Monday to become the men's World Cup's all-time leading scorer. His double earned Argentina a 2-0 win in Dallas and a place in the last 32.
Argentina took early control and won a penalty inside the opening 10 minutes after Lautaro Martinez was brought down. Referee Amin Omar pointed to the spot following a VAR review, but Messi's slow run-up produced a weak effort that drifted off target.
The captain made amends in the 38th minute, sweeping home a low ball from Facundo Medina after Thiago Almada dummied to leave him clear. Messi struck again in stoppage time, firing in at the second attempt after a scramble in the box, to settle a bad-tempered contest.
Austria coach Ralf Rangnick praised Messi while disputing the build-up to the first goal. "If someone is 39 years old and can score two goals and five overall at the beginning of the World Cup, that makes a difference," he said.
Rangnick argued the fourth official should have flagged a foul on Xaver Schlager before the opener. "For the first goal, I would've asked the fourth official to do what he did before the penalty kick, he should have looked and he would've seen what everyone saw, a foul on (Xaver) Schlager," he said. "It was annoying."
He accepted his side contributed to the second goal but defended the overall display. "During every match at a World Cup there are phases where one team has the momentum on their side," Rangnick said. "I think in the second half we put in a top performance."
On the result itself, the Austria coach was blunt about facing Messi. "This is Lionel Messi," he said. "He doesn't need many situations to actually decide a match."
The victory moved Lionel Scaloni's holders three points clear at the top of Group J and confirmed their place in the knockout rounds with a game to spare. It was Austria's first defeat of the group phase after a 3-1 win over Jordan in their opener.
Austria did not register a shot on target in the first half and rarely threatened after the break, with Emiliano Martinez troubled only by a Marcel Sabitzer free-kick. Argentina lost Cristian Romero in the second half after he was caught late and forced off with a knock.
