Messi Double Seals 2-0 Win for Argentina Over Austria, Top Group J with Maximum Points
Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, moving to six points and top of Group J.
In a heated atmosphere at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, defending champions Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 to secure their second consecutive win in Group J of the 2026 World Cup. Lionel Messi scored in the 38th and 90th minutes to seal the victory and keep Argentina top of the group.
The first half saw Argentina dominate possession, but Austria's defense held firm. In the 9th minute, Messi saw his penalty saved by the Austrian goalkeeper. Undeterred, Argentina continued to press. In the 38th minute, Messi received a pass from F. Medina and slotted home from the edge of the box to make it 1-0.
Austria tried to mount a comeback in the second half, but Argentina's defense remained solid. In the 90th minute, Messi added a second goal on the counter-attack to seal the win. The halftime score was 1-0, full-time 2-0.
Statistically, Argentina had 12 total shots (5 on goal, 4 off, 3 blocked) compared to Austria's 6 (1 on goal, 5 off). Possession was 54% to 46% in favor of Argentina, corners 1-3, expected goals 2.36 vs 0.53. Argentina completed 554 passes at 89% accuracy, Austria 468 at 86%. Goalkeeper saves: Argentina 1, Austria 2. Both teams received two yellow cards.
Man of the match was Argentina captain Lionel Messi, who earned a 9.3 rating, played 90 minutes, scored 2 goals, had 7 shots, 2 key passes, and 40 passes. The 38-year-old, who plays for Inter Miami CF, has 198 caps for Argentina. He was born in Rosario, stands 170 cm tall, and has a market value of €15.00m.
In Group J standings, Argentina leads with 6 points from two wins, scoring 5 and conceding 0 (GD +5). Austria is second with 3 points (3 GF, 3 GA, GD 0). Algeria also has 3 points (2 GF, 4 GA, GD -2). Jordan is bottom with 0 points.
Argentina has already secured qualification and faces Jordan on June 28 at 10:00 (kickoff) needing only a draw to guarantee top spot. Austria must face Algeria in a decisive match at the same time; a win secures progress, while a draw leaves them dependent on the other result.
For more match details, visit the match page. Follow Argentina and Austria on their team pages: Argentina and Austria. Group standings can be found on the groups page.