Lionel Messi Eyes Historic World Cup Milestones

Lionel Messi will look to guide Argentina closer to the knockout rounds when they face Austria in a crucial Group J clash.

Argentina takes on Austria at the Dallas Stadium on Monday in the FIFA World Cup 2026, with a place in the knockout stage potentially within reach. A victory would strengthen Argentina’s position in the group and move the team a step closer to the next round.

All eyes will once again be on Lionel Messi, who is set to make his 201st appearance for his country. The Argentine captain heads into the match in outstanding form after leading his side to a convincing 3-0 win over Algeria in their opening fixture. During that match, Messi produced a memorable display by scoring his first-ever World Cup hat-trick.

Beyond helping Argentina secure another important result, Messi has the opportunity to achieve two major personal milestones. The veteran forward currently shares the record for the most goals in World Cup history with former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, with both players on 16 goals. A goal against Austria would see Messi move ahead and become the tournament’s outright leading scorer.

The Argentine icon also stands on the verge of another landmark achievement. Messi is level with fellow Argentine legend Diego Maradona on eight World Cup assists. Should he provide a goal for a teammate in Monday’s encounter, he would claim sole ownership of the competition’s assist record.

The Messi World Cup records chase adds extra intrigue to a match that already carries significant importance for Argentina. After facing Austria, the South American side will complete its group-stage campaign against Jordan on 27 June.

With history within reach and qualification at stake, the spotlight will firmly remain on Messi as he looks to deliver another memorable performance and add to his remarkable legacy through the pursuit of Messi World Cup records.

Do you think Lionel Messi will break one or both of these World Cup records against Austria?