Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 in the FIFA World Cup 2026 on Monday, with Lionel Messi deciding the fixture through goals in the 38th minute and 90’+5. His late second put the result beyond doubt and added another chapter to a tournament already shaped by his record-setting finishing.
At AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Argentina controlled enough of the match to justify the result, even if Austria stayed competitive for long stretches. Lionel Scaloni’s side finished with 53.6 percent possession, registered 12 shots to Austria’s six, and forced the clearer openings across both halves.
The breakthrough arrived in the 38th minute, when Messi found the decisive touch to put Argentina in front. It was the kind of moment that shifted the rhythm of the fixture: Austria had been organized and disciplined, but once they trailed, they had to open up more than they would have liked against a side so comfortable circulating the ball in central areas.
Austria tried to respond after the interval and did win three corners on the day, yet clear chances remained limited. They managed only one shot on target, a reflection of Argentina’s defensive structure and game management once ahead. Facundo Medina went into the book in the 76th minute, while Konrad Laimer was also shown a yellow at the same point after Stefan Posch had been cautioned in the 40th minute.
With the match still alive entering stoppage time, Austria had a narrow window to chase an equalizer. Instead, Argentina produced the clinching moment in the 90’+5, when Messi struck again to make it 2-0. The second goal rewarded Argentina’s patience and ensured the final minutes were played without late drama.
Key performers
Messi was once again the headline act, scoring in the 38th minute and 90’+5 to settle the fixture. Beyond the brace, he remained Argentina’s reference point in the final third, turning controlled possession into decisive end product. At the back, Argentina also deserve credit for allowing Austria just one shot on target, a platform that gave their attacking players time to find the winning moments.
NerdSports Stat: Argentina faced only one shot on target and still had the game’s two latest high-value moments, with Messi’s opener at 38′ and insurance goal at 90’+5 spanning a 57-minute stretch of scoreboard control.
This result strengthens Argentina’s position in Group J and confirms their momentum early in the tournament, improving them to 2-0-0. Austria drop to 1-0-1 and now have work to do in their next fixture if they are to keep control of their path forward. For Argentina, the immediate story is bigger than three points alone: Messi’s latest World Cup goals continue to push an already historic record further out of reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lionel Messi scored for Argentina in the 38th minute and 90’+5.
Argentina 2 – 0 Austria.
Argentina move to 2-0-0 in Group J and strengthen their place near the top, while Austria fall to 1-0-1 and face a significant next fixture.
Lionel Messi was the standout performer with two goals, scored in the 38th minute and 90’+5.
