Lionel Messi did what Lionel Messi does. Two goals, a man-of-the-match performance, and Argentina is officially through to the knockout stage of the World Cup after a 2-0 win over Austria on Monday.
It wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t complicated. Messi scored in the 35th minute to break the deadlock, then sealed it with a stoppage-time strike at 90+5. That brace pushed Argentina to the top of Group J with their second win of the tournament. According to ESPN, the victory clinches their spot in the next round with room to spare.
Messi’s been on another level
The 38-year-old is playing like a man who knows this might be his last real shot at another World Cup title. He’s been relentless from the opening whistle of the tournament. Against Austria, he created chances out of nothing and finished both of his with clinical precision. The first goal came from a quick turn and low shot that the Austrian keeper had no chance of stopping. The second was vintage Messi — a late run into the box, a calm finish, and the game was done.
Fans online were quick to point out that he’s making it look easy. One supporter wrote: “He’s 38 and still the best player on the pitch by a mile. We don’t deserve him.”
Austria couldn’t find an answer
Austria came into the match with a game plan that didn’t survive the first half. They sat deep, tried to clog the midfield, and hoped to catch Argentina on the counter. It worked for about 35 minutes. Then Messi happened. After the first goal, Austria had to push forward and left gaps that Argentina almost exploited a few more times. The final stats show Argentina dominated possession and outshot Austria 14 to 6. It was the kind of performance that makes you wonder if anyone in Group J can slow them down.
Argentina now waits to see who they’ll face in the round of 16. The draw hasn’t been set yet, but the way they’re playing, it might not matter much. Messi looks fresh. The defense looks organized. And the rest of the squad seems to have bought into whatever game plan the coaching staff is selling.
ESPN posted a clip of Messi’s brace with a caption that read: “A LEO MESSI BRACE KEEPS ARGENTINA WINNING AT THE WORLD CUP. They top Group J and advance to the KO stage.” The video had racked up thousands of shares within minutes.
This story is still developing, and we’ll update it as more details come out of the Argentina camp. But for now, Messi and company are looking like a serious problem for the rest of the field.
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