Lionel Messi Gets 9/10 | Argentina Players Rated In Win Vs Austria After La Pulga Goes Past Klose’s World Cup Record | OneFootball

Dallas provided the sultry backdrop for a historic afternoon in the FIFA World Cup 2026. It was sticky, tense, and ultimately historic as Argentina wore down a stubborn Austrian side to seal their place in the World Cup knockout stages. Lionel Scaloni made just a solitary tweak to the side that dismantled Algeria, throwing Nahuel Molina into the mix. Yet the early exchanges felt fractured. Lionel Messi even uncharacteristically fluffed his lines from the penalty spot inside 10 minutes. Alexander Schlager guessed right, parrying the ball away to stun the travelling support.

Lionel Messi breaks all-time record as Argentina march into the knockout stages

True greatness refuses to hide. The maestro soon mended that error by latching onto a Facundo Medina pass to sweep home a magnificent opener, breaking Miroslav Klose’s historic World Cup scoring record in the process. Seventeen goals. Uncharted territory. Austria huffed and puffed, remaining competitive through Marcel Sabitzer, but Ralf Rangnick’s men lacked the final ball to unnerve the world champions truly. A late scramble allowed Messi to secure his brace in stoppage time, wrapping up a professional 2-0 win.

Defensive stability and record breakers

Emiliano Martínez – 7/10

A clean sheet tells its own story. He commanded his area with typical arrogance, collecting crosses and keeping Austria at arm’s length without needing to make any truly heroic interventions.

Nahuel Molina – 6/10

A solid, if unspectacular, return to the starting lineup. He locked down his flank efficiently, although his final delivery into the box occasionally left a bit to be desired.

Cristian Romero – 7/10

Aggressive and front-footed. He snuffed out the threat of Michael Gregoritsch with minimal fuss before his planned withdrawal.

Lisandro Martínez – 7/10

He read the game beautifully today. Licha’s distribution from the back helped bypass the Austrian press, and his positional awareness stopped several dangerous counter-attacks before they could develop.

Facundo Medina – 8/10

An exceptional display from the full-back. He defended stoutly, picked up a yellow card for his troubles, and provided the crucial assist for the historic opening goal with a perfectly weighted pass.

Midfield engines and attacking sparks

Rodrigo De Paul – 6/10

He provided the usual industry and bite in the engine room. He covered every blade of grass to disrupt the opposition, though his passing occasionally lacked finesse.

Alexis Mac Allister – 7/10

The Liverpool man kept things ticking over smoothly in possession. He recycled the ball under pressure and provided the necessary composure when Austria tried to turn the game into a physical battle.

Enzo Fernández – 6/10

A slightly quieter outing. He filled the gaps well and anchored the midfield, but he did not quite dictate the tempo as authoritatively as he could.

Thiago Almada – 6/10

He showed moments of creative intent in the final third. He found spaces difficult to come by against a compact Austrian block and left the field just after the hour mark.

Frontline magic

Lionel Messi – 9/10

ARLINGTON, TEXAS – JUNE 22: Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J match between Argentina and Austria at Dallas Stadium on June 22, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

Football history bent to his will once more in Texas. Despite missing an early penalty, he completely dictated the narrative, scoring a superb opener to claim the all-time World Cup scoring record before showing a predatory instinct to slam home the second late on.

Lautaro Martínez – 5/10

A frustrating afternoon for the striker. He worked hard off the ball but starved of clear-cut service; he failed to test Alexander Schlager before being replaced.

Impact from the bench

Nicolás Otamendi – 6/10

He brought veteran know-how to the backline for the final half-hour, helping to preserve the clean sheet when Austria threw bodies forward.

Julián Álvarez – 7/10

He injected tremendous energy into the frontline. His direct run and shot late on created the chaos that allowed Messi to fire in the rebound.

Nicolás González – 6/10

He offered a useful outlet on the wing, tracking back diligently to help his full-back protect the lead.

Leandro Paredes – 5/10

He entered late to shore things up but managed to pick up a foolish stoppage-time booking during a brief cameo.

Nicolás Tagliafico – N/A

He arrived in the 81st minute to provide fresh legs on the left side, helping Argentina comfortably manage the final whistle.