* As his brace gives Argentina 2-0 victory against Austria to send the defending champions through to the knockout stages with a game to spare
* Messi’s first goal brought up 17 in the World Cup — moving him clear of Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the top scorer in the tournament’s history
* While in the other Group J match, Algeria beat Jordan 2-1 to clinch their first FIFA World Cup™win since 2014
Maravi Express
Lionel Messi broke the FIFA World Cup™ scoring record when he scored twice as Argentina beat Austria 2-0 for the defending champions to secure their place in the knockout Round of 32 stages.
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Messi had missed an early penalty after VAR intervened to award a spot-kick for a foul on Lautaro Martinez but the 38-year-old Argentina captain could not be denied for long, scoring with a trademark finish from Facundo Medina’s low cross in the first half.
Messi’s first goal brought up 17 in the World Cup — moving him clear of Germany’s Miroslav Klose as the top scorer in the tournament’s history. He added a second in stoppage-time to take his tally to five in just two Group J fixtures after his hat-trick against Algeria.
Algeria, meanwhile, beat Jordan 2-1 to clinch their first FIFA World Cup™ win since 2014 through goals from Nadhir Benbouali and Amine Gouiri and can finish second and clinch a spot in the knockout round if they win on Saturday against Austria.
Four of Messi’s 18 World Cup goals have been penalties but maybe it was more appropriate that the record-breaking effort came as it did: “Beyond anything, I’m so happy for the win,” he said.
“It was huge, tough and difficult. It allows us to be relaxed for what’s ahead. All matches in this World Cup are very even, very intense.
“I’m enjoying this moment and craving to enjoy it with my team-mates. There were moments when I was really angry about missing the penalty, but I was able to make up for it.”
He is a different player now. But no less remarkable. In fact, shorn of pace and about to turn 39, it is even more improbable that he is able to do what he does. He has become the first man in over half a century to score in six consecutive World Cup matches.
Much is made of how this team is built to serve him. But the tactic is working. The policy is proving less successful for Portugal, while perhaps Spain could look to Lamine Yamal more than they are doing. Argentina have found the sweet spot.
This was not even Messi’s best performance of this World Cup but he could still have scored five. And this was a test. A rare appearance for him of late against European opposition – with Ralf Rangnick’s Austria playing a physical, pressing game as well.
It was awkward for Messi and Argentina at times. The space that he had been afforded against Algeria was absent. Sometimes there were five Austria players around him as soon as he received the ball. But that meant there was space elsewhere. He found it.
A first-time pass here, a wriggle free there. It opened the pitch for the penalty won and missed, and the first goal that he scored. Test passed by Argentina. History made by Messi. Eighteen goals now but how many more still to come before the curtain comes down?
A place in the knockout stage has already been booked, although it would be a shock if Messi is not given the chance to add to his total against Jordan. What do you get the man who has everything? Maybe the Golden Boot? The Messi show just goes on and on.
Scoring against Austria means Messi becomes just 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 scored 5 goals in this 2026 edition World Cup more than any other player and at the age of 38 years and 357 days, Messi became the oldest hat-trick scorer in World Cup history against Algeria. The previous oldest was Cristiano Ronaldo who was 33 years and 130 days when he scored a treble against Spain in 2018.
His hat-trick against Algeria also saw Messi become the highest-scoring South American at tournament, surpassing Brazil legend Ronaldo (15).
In San Francisco, Algeria produced a spirited comeback to secure their first victory, overturning a first-half deficit to beat Jordan 2-1. After dominating possession and creating numerous chances, the North Africans finally made their superiority count with two second-half goals in a thrilling contest.
Algeria made an enterprising start and threatened as early as the third minute when Amine Gouiri fired narrowly wide of Yazeed Abulaila’s right-hand post.
The Desert Foxes continued to apply pressure and nearly broke the deadlock from a corner four minutes later, but the Jordanian defence managed to clear the danger before the ball could reach the waiting attackers.
Captain Riyad Mahrez came close midway through the half when he burst through the middle and found himself one-on-one with Abulaila, only to hesitate at the crucial moment, allowing a defender to recover and deny him.
Jordan registered their first effort on target in the 23rd minute through Ali Olwan, whose shot from inside the box was comfortably gathered by Luka Zidane.
Despite Algeria’s dominance, Jordan struck against the run of play six minutes before the break. Mousa Al-Taamari launched a well-worked move before picking out Nizar Al-Rashdan, who calmly swept a low effort into the bottom corner to give Jordan a 1-0 lead.
Jordan nearly doubled their advantage before half-time, but Algeria survived and went into the break trailing despite having enjoyed the better of the opening period.
Algeria came back even stronger. Mahrez delivered a dangerous free-kick in the 51st minute, but Abulaila punched clear before producing another excellent save moments later to deny Ibrahim Maza.
Maza remained a constant threat and came close again on the hour mark, but his effort drifted just over the crossbar.
Algeria’s persistence was finally rewarded in the 66th minute. From a Mahrez corner, substitute Nadhir Ben Bouali rose highest to head home the equaliser and bring his side level.
The decisive moment arrived in the 82nd minute. Following another corner, Amine Gouiri reacted quick to a loose ball inside the area and fired home from close range to complete the turnaround and spark celebrations among the Algerian players and staff.
Attention now turns to a decisive final group-stage encounter against Austria, with qualification for the Round of 16 still within reach.—Reporting by SkySports News & CAFonline; editing by Maravi Express
Group stage results
Group A
Mexico 2-0 South Africa
South Korea 2-1 Czechia
Czech Republic 1-2 South Africa
Mexico 1-0 South Korea
Group B
Canada 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina
Qatar 1-1 Switzerland
Switzerland 4-1 Bosnia & Herzegovina
Canada 6-0 Qatar
Group C
Brazil 1-1 Morocco
Haiti 0-1 Scotland
Scotland 0-1 Morocco
Brazil 3-0 Haiti
Group D
USA 4-1 Paraguay
Australia 2-0 Turkiye
USA 2-1 Australia
Turkiye 0-1 Paraguay
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador
Germany 7-1 Curaçao
Germany 2-1 Côte d’Ivoire
Ecuador 0-0 Curaçao
Group F
Netherlands 2-2 Japan
Sweden 5-1 Tunisia
Tunisia 0-4 Japan
Netherlands 5-1 Sweden
Group G
Belgium 1-1 Egypt
Iran 2-2 New Zealand
Beligium 0-0
New Zealand 1-3
Group H
Spain 0-0 Cape Verde
Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay
Uruguay 2-2 Cape Verde
Spain 4-0 Saudi Arabia
Group I
France 3-1 Senegal
Iraq 1-4 Norway
Norway 3-2 Senegal
France 3-0 Iraq
Group J
Argentina 3-0 Algeria
Austria 3-1 Jordan
Argentina 2-0 Austria
Jordan 1-2 Tunisia
Group K
Portugal 1-1 DR Congo
Uzbekistan 1-3 Colombia
Group L
England 4-2 Croatia
Ghana 1-0 Panama
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