Messi sets World Cup scoring record as defending champion Argentina advances to knockout stage

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ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Lionel Messi acceptable a World Cup grounds with his 17th and 18th goals, and defending champion Argentina precocious to the knockout signifier with a 2-0 triumph implicit Austria connected Monday.

Messi had a aureate accidental to interruption the grounds successful the ninth minute, but went wide to the close connected a punishment kick. Almost 30 minutes later, Messi caught Alexander Schlager leaning the incorrect mode aft Thiago Almada fto Facuno Medina's walk spell by him straight onto Messi's near foot.

“There were moments erstwhile I was truly aggravated astir missing the penalty, but I was capable to marque up for it,” Messi said.

In the waning seconds of wounded time, Messi extended his grounds by sending a changeable done respective defenders aft Schlager turned distant his archetypal attempt. He entered the crippled adjacent with Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals implicit 4 World Cups from 2002-14.

“Beyond thing I’m truthful blessed for the win,” Messi said. “It was huge, pugnacious and difficult. It would let america to beryllium relaxed to what’s ahead. All matches successful this World Cup are precise even, precise intense. I’m enjoying this infinitesimal and craving to bask with my teammates.”

Two days earlier his 39th day and with an ailing begetter backmost home, Messi celebrated doubly with teammates to the delight of the decidedly pro-Argentine assemblage astatine the sold-out location of the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys.

Most of those fans were wearing Messi’s acquainted No. 10 jersey with achromatic and bluish stripes, dwarfing the tiny pockets of red-clad Austrian supporters nether the retractable extortion that offered air-conditioned comfortableness connected the 2nd time of what is definite to beryllium different blistery Texas summer.

The scoring grounds came 40 years to the time since the precocious Diego Maradona’s “goal of the century” — different No. 10 who made a solo tally from the different broadside of midfield to springiness Argentina a two-goal pb successful a 2-1 triumph implicit England successful the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals successful Mexico City. Argentina went connected to triumph the title.

Messi joined Just Fontaine and Jairzinho arsenic the lone players to people successful six consecutive World Cup games, and he's 2nd among men all-time with 122 planetary goals to Cristiano Ronaldo's 143.

Argentina extended its winning streak successful the tourney to 8 since a shocking nonaccomplishment to Saudi Arabia successful its 2022 opener successful Qatar.

La Albiceleste clinched the apical spot successful Group J with Jordan's 2-1 nonaccomplishment to Algeria connected Monday night. Messi's playing presumption volition beryllium successful question with thing astatine involvement erstwhile Argentina returns to AT&T Stadium to look Jordan successful a group-stage finale Saturday night. Jordan has already been eliminated.

Messi has scored each 5 of Argentina goals successful the tourney and has 12 World Cup goals since turning 35. The eight-time Ballon d’Or victor arsenic soccer’s champion subordinate successful Europe had his archetypal World Cup chapeau instrumentality successful Argentina’s 3-0 triumph implicit Algeria successful its Group J opener past week successful Kansas City.

Trailing by a extremity aboriginal successful second-half wounded time, Austria winger Patrick Wimmer went conscionable wide connected a header aft Kevin Danso had sent a header his absorption disconnected a escaped kick.

“I deliberation that we were successful possession of the shot much than different radical expected,” Austria manager Ralf Rangnick said done an interpreter. “Unfortunately, we weren’t capable to nullify each antagonistic attack.”

Austria, which opened with a 3-1 triumph implicit Jordan, tin beforehand with a triumph implicit Algeria connected Saturday successful Kansas City.

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AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

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