Lionel Messi has made more World Cup history while Argentina take on Austria in a potential Group J decider.
The Argentina captain stroked home a fine finish shortly before half-time, making up for an penalty miss inside the opening 10 minutes, to become the outright top scorer in World Cup history. The missed spot-kick followed a double challenge on Lautaro Martinez in the Austria box, and Messi spurned further chances in the first half before Thiago Almada cleverly left a cutback from Facundo Medina, allowing the maestro to capitalise.
Messi had moved level with Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading top scorer in tournament history with a hat-trick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria, and he now has the outright record.
With that, the defending champions are well positioned to top Group J, having seen off Algeria 3-0, while Austria got started with a win over Jordan but now face a tough task in getting a result here.
Follow all of the latest from the World Cup clash with our live blog below:
Argentina vs Austria LIVE
- Argentina take on Austria in World Cup Group J | Live on BBC
- 39' GOAL! Messi breaks World Cup goalscoring record with wonderful finish [ARG 1-0 AUS]
- 8' PENALTY MISS! Messi clips his spot kick wide after Lautaro goes down in Austria box
- Argentina XI: E Martinez; Molina, Romero, L Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Messi, L Martinez, Almada
- Austria XI: A Schlager; Laimer, Danso, Posch, Alaba; Seiwald, Sabitzer, X Schlager; Schmid, Gregoritsch, Wanner
More immortality for Messi
18:59 , Will Castle
HALF-TIME! Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:56 , Will Castle
Lionel Messi has made more history to put Argentina in the driving seat against Austria as they lead their Group J clash at the break.
The Argentina captain stroked home a fine finish shortly before half-time, making up for an penalty miss inside the opening 10 minutes, to become the outright top scorer in World Cup history. The missed spot-kick followed a double challenge on Lautaro Martinez in the Austria box, and Messi spurned further chances in the first half before Thiago Almada cleverly left a cutback from Facundo Medina, allowing the maestro to capitalise.
Messi had moved level with Miroslav Klose as the all-time leading top scorer in tournament history with a hat-trick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria, and he now has the outright record.
HALF-TIME! Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:54 , Will Castle
The holders go into the break in front, and the fans have already got the moment they came to see: Lionel Messi is the all-time World Cup record goalscorer.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:52 , Will Castle
45+6 mins: Cracking noise inside Dallas Stadium as Argentina just tick the ball about - they’re happy to cruise to half-time.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:52 , Will Castle
45+4 mins: There’s no doubt that tension was building as chance after chance fell to Messi, only for the record-chaser not to convert.
It was naive to think for a second it wouldn’t be his day. Nine times out of 10, it’s his day.
Argentina 1-0 Austria
18:47 , Will Castle
45+1 mins: Seven minutes added on in first half stoppages, a lot of which would have come for the lengthy VAR delay before the penalty was awarded.
What happened with that again? Anyway, doesn’t matter.
More immortality for Messi
18:44 , Jack Rathborn at Dallas Stadium
Incredible scenes, Argentina fans are beside themselves as Messi breaks the deadlock and the all-time World Cup goalscoring record.
A serenity, initially, to his celebration, fingers pointed to a blur of blue and white, but then a double fist pump, it's history for Messi and a magical 17th World Cup goal.
And 12 years after Klose's record was set, Messi has it for himself.
GOAL! Argentina 1-0 Austria (Messi, 39')
18:39 , Will Castle
THERE IT IS!!!
It was always going to come, wasn’t it! Lionel Messi slots home after having it pulled back to him in the box by Medina, and he has now broken Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record!
Just a few days before his 39th birthday, Messi is onto four goals in two games this tournament. He’s, still, got, it.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:38 , Will Castle
37 mins: Argentina look like they’re getting into a very promising position as Martinez is played forward, but he’s all alone and has two retreating Austria defenders for company.
He holds it up before linking with Fernandez but the eventual ball into the danger area has no one to meet it.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:34 , Will Castle
32 mins: OFF THE LINE! It just won’t fall for Messi!
It’s a sublime touch to try and set Fernandez in - Schlager gets there first but knocks it straight back to the Argentine magician, whose effort beats the keeper but is blocked by Danso.
Records like this are never going to come easy.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:31 , Will Castle
29 mins: We are back underway and Austria have another corner.
Again it comes to nothing, acrobatically cleared by Lautaro Martinez.
Will history come for Lionel Messi?
18:29 , Will Castle
Not yet...
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:25 , Will Castle
23 mins: Half-chance for Austria as Sabitzer meets a flick on in the box, but his shot is blocked by Romero.
Nothing comes from the corner that follows, and that leads us into the first hydration break of the game.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:21 , Will Castle
19 mins: CHANCE! Another huge chance to snatch the record!
Messi darts into the box and beats his first man but just doesn’t get the shot away in time, denied by the leg of Austria stopper Schlager.
He’s knocking at the door...
History must wait for Messi
18:19 , Jack Rathborn at Dallas Stadium
Sheer disbelief at the Dallas Stadium after Messi curled that spot kick wide of the post. A hushed expectation was quickly followed by a gasp in disbelief.
Austria, shocked too, now trying to settle, though it's frantic, especially with the bodies scurrying to stifle Messi and crowd the space when Argentine do release him in the midfield.
History must wait for Messi, but after a lonely walk back to the centre circle, he's back bouncing around and attempting to knit the play together for Argentina.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:18 , Will Castle
15 mins: Another decent free-kick opportunity comes Austria’s way as Sabitzer stands over the ball from the left of the box, but he scuffs it and Argentina clear.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:14 , Will Castle
11 mins: The crowd has gone from vociferous to stunned by that penalty miss. They all thought they were about to witness history.
Austria are now enjoying their first bit of possession of the game and have a free-kick just inside the Argentina half.
MISS! Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:10 , Will Castle
8 mins: WOW.
It’s a poor penalty from Lionel Messi and his wait for World Cup history goes on. He is human after all.
PENALTY! Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:09 , Will Castle
The Dallas Stadium ERUPTS! VAR overturns the decision due to the sandwich nature of the tackle - Schlager only got the man.
Lionel Messi is about to get an early shot at history.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:08 , Will Castle
7 mins: At long last, the referee has been sent across to check the monitor!
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:07 , Will Castle
6 mins: This is a lengthy check...
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:06 , Will Castle
3 mins: Another early opening for Argentina! Messi slips in Martinez who bears down on goal, but Posch and Schlager both slide in with the recovery challenge.
It looks like Posch does get the ball - and Schlager doesn’t - but the referee isn’t interested in a penalty... yet. A VAR check is going on.
Martinez, meanwhile, has stayed down hurt.
Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:04 , Will Castle
2 mins: Bright start from Argentina as Fernandez makes a positive forward run.
He slips in Almada who tries to squeeze it in from the byline, but he hits it into the side netting.
Almada wants a corner, but he was probably offside anyway.
KICK-OFF! Argentina 0-0 Austria
18:02 , Will Castle
We are underway!
Cauldron in Dallas
18:01 , Jack Rathborn in Dallas Stadium
A cauldron of noise at the Dallas Stadium, Argentina fans erupt after the Austria national anthem and we're ready for kick-off.
This should be a trickier test for Argentina, Ralf Rangnick will have a plan and Austria appear to have the ingredients to frustrate Argentina and their 4-4-2 shape, Schmid and Sabitzer's ambition to get forward could prove vital to their hopes.
Likewise, Messi, and Enzo Fernandez or Alexis Mac Allister's willingness to push forward and operate between the lines should be where Argentina attempt to find joy.
Dallas Stadium packed out
17:56 , Will Castle
Barely an empty seat in the house for this one.
Time for the anthems.
Here come the teams
17:52 , Will Castle
The players are lined up in the tunnel in Dallas and are about to take to the pitch...
Are we about to witness history? Or are Austria here to spoil the party?
All the action, up next.
Final preparations
17:48 , Will Castle
Is Klose's time at the top running out?
17:41 , Will Castle
Lionel Messi equalled Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record of 16 last time out with a stunning hat-trick against Algeria - and he’s showing no signs of slowing up.
The German’s time at the top could be entering its final minutes...
Ribs, rainstorms and Republicans: Two weeks inside America’s supersized World Cup
17:35 , Lawrence Ostlere
JFK museum in Dallas, and it turned out I was not the only one. It is on the sixth floor of the old Texas School Book Depository and if you haven’t been, it’s excellent, cleverly laid out so that the story builds towards the fatal shots and suddenly you realise you are standing a few feet away from where Lee Harvey Oswald pulled the trigger. Or where the CIA says he did [winks].
But I would be reading about JFK’s controversial appeasement of the communists when, out of the corner of my eye, I’d be distracted by a QPR shirt. I’d view the poignant photographs of Jacqueline Kennedy in the aftermath of her husband’s assassination and notice an early 2000s England kit with “Heskey” on the back. A man walked past draped in a St George’s Cross bearing the crest of Luton Town, which is off-putting when you’re trying to absorb one of the most significant moments in American history.
This is one of the unique joys of the World Cup, of course, when football fans from all over the world mingle in public spaces, crossing paths on their way in and out of a city. Fifa’s eye-watering ticket prices have not killed all the vibes. Croatia fans were chanting in the museum queue. Germans have been getting drunk in Toronto. Argentinians are partying in Kansas City.
Ribs, rainstorms and Republicans: Two weeks inside America’s supersized World Cup
Getting in the mood
17:30 , Will Castle
Messi makes his arrival
17:23 , Jack Rathborn at Dallas Stadium
Here he is! Messi, in formation, with the Argentine squad in orange bibs, waiting for the green light to rush out onto the pitch for their warm-ups.
Messi turns, mutters a few words to his team with his back to the pitch, then spins and sprints out to a crackle of applause.
No divide in the Argentine warm-up, either, a large circle with all 26 players limbering up.
Austria captain David Alaba explains how his side will combat Argentina
17:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
David Alaba has faced Lionel Messi several times during the course of his career and knows the threat he and Argentina pose.
“We definitely watched their game before we left,” the Austria captain said.
“It’s incredible that Messi started such a tournament with a hat-trick. Absolutely insane… Let’s hope he doesn’t (do it) again…
“We know what kind of opponent we’re up against, what kind of quality they have in their ranks, even besides Messi, but also what they’re capable of as a team.”
Water-gate: Fifa’s lucrative World Cup breaks are ruining the spectacle
17:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The Dallas Stadium has very good air conditioning, of course, making the whole idea of a hydration break a little ridiculous. Lawrence Ostlere was strong on the matter at the start of the tournament.
Water-gate: Fifa’s lucrative World Cup breaks are ruining the spectacle
Argentina analysing impact of hydration breaks
17:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni offered an intriguing answer when asked about the hydration breaks at this World Cup yesterday, suggesting that he is trying to find a way of using them to his side’s advantage.
"Everything that I have in my mind can change depending on these 22, 23 minutes," Scaloni told reporters on Sunday of the disruption caused by the breaks. "We have people analysing the game and we look for solutions. It's what you do in a normal halftime.
"It's for those who want to attack because you can amend certain things. It's weird to adapt to that. It's something that, if we do it more, it will become normal. I don't think this is normal to us yet. We're trying to analyse things and correct things. Sometimes the match changes in the first period itself and you can amend certain things. I understand it will change."
Austria XI
16:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It looks like a reshaped backline for Austria with Kevin Danso into the starting side.
Austria XI: A Schlager; Laimer, Danso, Posch, Alaba; Seiwald, Sabitzer, X Schlager; Schmid, Gregoritsch, Wanner.
Argentina fans building incredible atmosphere in Dallas
16:54 , Jack Rathborn at Dallas Stadium
The noise is deafening surrounding this spaceship-like stadium with Argentina fans flocking to this Arlington hub for the latest glimpse of Messi.
There’s pride in the No 19 jersey, as much as the No 10, a hint to the journey that continues, despite No 3 for Argentina in Qatar.
Inside the stadium, the concourse underneath the enormous glass windows has thousands of Argentine fans gathering, quite whether they return to their seats at kick-off is unclear, it’s a unique vantage point.
There is only a smattering of red in this stadium, with the Red Eagles contingent tucked away in the far corner in the third tier of this football cathedral, with soccer now experiencing the magic of what Jerry Jones built for his Cowboys.
Argentina XI
16:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Nahuel Molina is brought into the backline for an otherwise unchanged Argentina.
Argentina XI: E Martinez; Molina, Romero, L Martinez, Medina; De Paul, Mac Allister, Fernandez; Messi, L Martinez, Almada.
Team news on the way...
16:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle
We’re expecting team news from the Dallas Stadium at some point in the near future. Argentina are set to be without Gonzalo Montiel due to a hamstring complaint, but will there be any other changes?
Lionel Messi releases statement on father Jorge’s health and criticises media coverage
16:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle
We must send well wishes to Lionel Messi’s father, with Jorge receiving treatment for a health issue. The family have understandably requested privacy.
Lionel Messi releases statement on father Jorge’s health and criticises media
Who will win the 2026 World Cup? Vote in our poll
16:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
World Cup power rankings
16:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
There are a couple of World Cup contenders in action today, with France facing Iraq a little later. Where do Argentina sit in our tournament power rankings? Will Castle assesses the potential victors.
World Cup 2026 power rankings: England and France make statements after round one
The weak link theory that will decide who wins the World Cup
16:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Lionel Messi will draw inevitable focus today and throughout this tournament, but could a less heralded Argentina player actually be key to their chances? Richard Jolly weak link theory posits that it is the 11th name on the team sheet that is most important, rather than the first.
The weak link theory that will decide who wins the World Cup
World Cup 2026 fixtures, results and group tables
15:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Want to stay up to date on all the latest results, fixtures and group tables at this World Cup? We’ve got you covered.
World Cup 2026 fixtures, results and group tables
How Austria opened their campaign
15:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Austria were also winners in their opening game of the tournament – though Ralf Rangnick may feel huge improvements are needed if they are to match Argentina today.
Austria win tense World Cup return against Jordan with late penalty and own goal
Lionel Messi explains why he was crying during World Cup hat-trick
15:25 , Luke Baker
Lionel Messi has revealed why he was crying during his brilliant hat-trick against Algeria that drew him level with Miroslav Klose atop the all-time World Cup goalscoring list.
Messi inspired Argentina to a comfortable 3-0 victory over Algeria in their first match of World Cup 2026, netting a treble at the sport’s biggest tournament for the first time.
Lionel Messi explains why he was crying during World Cup hat-trick
The extraordinary numbers behind Lionel Messi – and the all-time World Cup record now in his grasp
15:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Richard Jolly, meanwhile, profiles a player who may end this World Cup with a genuine claim to be the greatest in tournament history.
The extraordinary numbers behind Messi – and the World Cup record now in his grasp
Lionel Messi creates more history with Argentina after fabulous hat-trick reveals World Cup truth
15:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle
What did Lionel Messi’s hat-trick mean in the context of Argentina’s campaign? Jack Rathborn took a look:
Lionel Messi creates history with Argentina as hat-trick reveals World Cup truth
Lionel Messi equals World Cup top goalscorer record after stunning Argentina hat-trick
14:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle
It was some start to a sixth World Cup for Lionel Messi as he moved level with Miroslav Klose after a hat-trick in Argentina’s opener.
Lionel Messi equals World Cup top goalscorer record after Argentina hat-trick
Argentina vs Austria LIVE
11:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Argentina and Austria resume their World Cup campaigns as two nations off to a winning start meet in Dallas (or Arlington, to be exact). Will it be history for Lionel Messi as he chases the tournament scoring record outright? Or can Austria deny the defending champions and book their place in the knockout rounds?
Kick off is at 6pm BST.
