Messi comes, Messi scores, Messi etches history as Argentina march into knockouts

It was the 38th minute of Argentina's FIFA World Cup Group J clash against Austria that will be remembered long after this tournament ends.

Lionel Messi was searching for history and lurking around the Austrian defence. Argentina built a move from midfield before working the ball out to the left flank, where Facundo Medina delivered a teasing cross into the box. Timing his run to perfection, Messi arrived unmarked as a teammate intelligently left the ball in his path.

With his legendary left foot, the Argentine great guided the ball into the net.

Goal. The stadium erupted. Teammates rushed to embrace their captain as Argentina celebrated a moment of football history.

With that strike, Messi became the FIFA World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 17 goals, moving past Germany legend Miroslav Klose. Two days before his 39th birthday, Messi not only broke the tournament's scoring record but also joined Just Fontaine and Jairzinho as only the third player to score in six successive World Cup matches.

And it was not the end. Deep into second-half injury time, Messi had another moment of magic.

The move began down the left flank, with Messi involved in the build-up before releasing the ball into the final third. Argentina's attack continued as one effort was blocked and another deflected away by the desperate Austrian defence.

But the danger was far from over. The loose ball fell kindly for Messi in the box. The Argentine captain glided past a defender with trademark ease before unleashing a shot that was blocked. The rebound, however, came straight back to him.

This time, there was no stopping him. With his trusted left foot, Messi drilled the ball through a crowd of defenders and into the net.

Goal. It was World Cup goal No 18. It was his fifth goal of the tournament.

And it seemed there was simply no stopping the Argentine maestro.

Remarkably, all of it had begun with heartbreak in the ninth minute, when Messi missed a penalty that could have given him the record. 

Before that moment, however, the defining talking point of the Argentina-Austria clash at Dallas had come in the ninth minute.

Argentina were awarded a penalty after Lautaro Martinez was brought down inside the box, and Messi stepped up with the opportunity to make history. But in a rare moment, the Argentine talisman sent his effort wide of the post.

Messi knew the weight of the occasion. The stadium fell silent as thousands who had come to witness history were left waiting a little longer.

That was Argentina's first real chance of the game.

Messi threatened again in the 19th minute when he burst into the penalty area with the ball at his feet. However, David Alaba produced a crucial intervention, knocking the ball back towards his own goal where goalkeeper Alexander Schlager reacted well to make the save.

Austria gradually worked their way back into the contest after the hydration break. Knowing that sitting deep would yield little reward, they began to push forward in search of opportunities.

Marcel Sabitzer tried his luck to the goal, but the effort failed to trouble Emiliano Martinez.

Messi, meanwhile, continued to look dangerous. In the 32nd minute, he stabbed a shot towards goal from inside the penalty area, only for Alaba to throw himself in the way with a goal-saving block.

Minutes later, the football legend finally had his moment.

Austria could do little but wait for the half-time whistle. Yet even after the break, little changed on the pitch.

For a brief spell in the opening minutes of the second half, it appeared that Austria were attempting a comeback. Their best chance came in the 55th minute when Marcel Sabitzer tested Emiliano Martinez from a wide angle with a free-kick. The Argentine goalkeeper, however, was equal to the effort and made a comfortable save.

That proved to be as close as Austria would come.

Despite enjoying spells of possession, they struggled to create meaningful openings or seriously trouble the Argentine defence. Martinez was largely left untested as Argentina maintained control of proceedings.

At the other end, Messi remained a constant headache for the Austrian backline. Every touch from the captain seemed to carry a hint of danger, and Austria's defenders found themselves repeatedly chasing shadows against a player who appears to be getting better with age.

When the final whistle finally arrived, it was the magician who had the last smile.

Having broken the World Cup scoring record and inspired another Argentine victory, Messi walked off to a standing ovation as Argentina secured their place in the knockout stage.