Lionel Messi shattered World Cup scoring records on Monday, netting two goals to lead Argentina to a 2-0 victory over Austria in Texas and secure their place in the tournament's knockout stage. The brace pushed Messi's total World Cup goal count to 17, surpassing the previous record.

The match, held at the home of the Dallas Cowboys in front of a large pro-Argentina crowd, saw the reigning champions face an Austria side also vying for a spot in the next round. Both teams understood the significance of a win, which would guarantee advancement with a game remaining.

Messi's first goal came in the 38th minute after intricate build-up play, culminating in a signature left-footed finish. This goal equalled Miroslav Klose's long-standing record of 16 World Cup goals. He later sealed the victory in second-half injury time with his second of the match, a close-range effort following a scramble in the box.

Despite his historic achievement, Messi's performance was not without early drama. He missed a penalty kick in the ninth minute after Lautaro Martinez was fouled inside the box. The referee awarded the penalty following a VAR review, but Messi's attempt went wide of the post.

Austria, managed by Ralf Rangnick, adopted a defensive strategy for much of the first half, focusing on containing Argentina's attack. They had struggled to create clear scoring opportunities, failing to register a shot on target before halftime. Austria had entered the match following a 3-1 win against debutants Jordan in their opening game.

Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has a history of mixed fortunes with penalties in the World Cup. He also missed a spot-kick against Poland in the 2022 tournament, where Argentina ultimately emerged as champions. He also had a penalty saved in the 2018 World Cup.

Austria's captain, David Alaba, had a notable defensive performance, intervening to dispossess Messi on at least two occasions when the forward looked poised to score in the first half. Goalkeeper Alexander Schlager was also positioned to block a shot just before Messi's opening goal.

With this victory, Argentina advances to the round of 32, while Austria will need to secure a result in their final group match to progress. The focus now shifts to the knockout stages, where Messi's record-breaking form will be a key factor for Argentina's aspirations.