Argentina 2-0 Austria
So, before anyone suggests otherwise, this SBOTOP writer is far from the bete noire of Lionel Messi.
Let me make very clear my admiration for the Argentine magician – he is one of the game’s all-time greats, a true genius and one of the best players I’ve ever had the privilege of seeing live.
My appraisal relates to where the achievement we have just seen – in which the Argentina captain has become the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals – should credibly be ranked.
And without wishing to quash what many are saying this morning, the goalscoring record deserves more context for it is simply not a tally which deserves to be mentioned at the same level as some other international landmarks achieved by his predecessors.
Highlights of the game
Why? Because most of his World Cup goals have come against such limited opposition for a start.
Take their World Cup 2026 opening match last week when Messi’s stunning hat-trick in the 3-0 win over Algeria moved the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner level at the top of the all-time standings.
Until then, Germany striker Miroslav Klose stood on his own with 16 World Cup goals.
The fact Messi required 27 games – three more than Klose – to hit 16 is a point for debate but the real argument stems around the fact (and it is not Messi’s fault), that the majority of his goals have come against a diet of weak opposition.
A look through the list of his World Cup goals show only Holland, Croatia and France, in the unforgettable 2022 final, as leading sides – and all bar one of those strikes were penalties.
That 12 of his 18 goals on football’s greatest stage have come since he turned 35 proves the point.
Yes, his talent, even when he turns 39 on Wednesday, is beyond dispute but few of his predecessors have consistently faced such second and third tier level nations on the biggest stage of all.
The face Argentina will complete their group stage matches against Jordan (hot on the heels of Algeria and Austria) only underlines the point. As FIFA has expanded the tournament, the number of participating nations has grown, but the quality of some encounters has declined accordingly.
There will certainly not be many stories anymore like we witnessed in 2022 when the minnows of Saudi Arabia sensationally shocked the world.
Austria were the latest to face the reigning world champions and, bar the odd probing from Marcel Sabitzer – on the occasion of his 100th appearance – and combative Konrad Laimer, offered simply no urgency or genuine threat.
Perhaps that is no surprise given their pedigree is historic. Since the 1954 World Cup, when they finished third, Austria have only reached the knockout stages twice of any international tournament.
I was just expecting a bit more, as they showed when they reached the last 16 of Euro 2024 and shocked Holland along the way.
Back to the game and all the World Cup 2026 highlights belonged to the South Americans and one man.
After nine minutes, Messi dragged a penalty wide of the post but he had the record he craved seven minutes before the break with a signature run before slotting the ball into the bottom corner.
He added a second for good measure deep into injury time when he picked the ball up and sprayed it to Julian Alvarez who was unable to finish so Messi impressively showed him how.
The World Cup 2026 betting odds place Argentina among the overall tournament favourites and it is hard to yet judge, based on the fact the make-up of their group means they will not face a genuine test until the knockout stages.
No nation has won back-to-back World Cups since Brazil (1958 & 1962) so the chances of Lionel Scaloni’s men doing so may seem slim. But the real test of Argentina and Messi will be when the diet of weak opposition disappears.
Regardless of what happens over the next month, Messi is immortal, but context matters and his goalscoring record has been built on too many easy targets.
Key statistics
Messi has now become only the third player in World Cup history to score in six consecutive games after France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.
He has taken seven and missed the most penalties (three) in World Cup history (excluding shootouts).
Argentina have won seven of their last nine competitive matches and have not conceded a goal in six of their last nine competitive matches.
Austria did have Marko Arnautovic in their ranks, a player who sealed their victory over debutants Jordan from the penalty spot as his side made their first World Cup bow since 1990. His arrival as a 68th minute substitute was his 135th international appearance.
What’s next?
The final matches in Group J will be played in the early hours of next Sunday morning (June 28) as the world champions meet Jordan, ranked 68th in the world, and Algeria meet the Austrians.
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