Messi reflects on missed penalty and World Cup record after sealing Argentina's place in last 32

Lionel Messi has spoken of his delight astatine Argentina's spot successful the past 32 of World Cup 2026 after surpassing Miroslav Klose's all-time scoring grounds with a brace successful Monday's 2-0 triumph implicit Austria astatine Dallas Stadium successful Arlington.

The 38-year-old — who turns 39 connected Wednesday — struck doubly to scope 18 World Cup goals successful total, moving 2 wide of the German grounds helium had equalled by completing a hat-trick against Algeria successful Argentina's tourney opener. Messi present has 5 goals from 2 Group J appearances, having scored each of the Albiceleste's goals astatine this World Cup, and besides becomes the archetypal subordinate to diagnostic successful six antithetic editions of the men's World Cup.

His evening was not without a hard moment, however. Messi struck a punishment wide of the right-hand station successful the archetypal fractional aft Alexander Schlager dived the close way, a miss that concisely allowed Austria to prehend the inaugural earlier Messi yet enactment the effect beyond doubt.

Messi reflects connected punishment miss and record-breaking night

Speaking successful the mixed portion aft the last whistle, Messi acknowledged his spot footwear mistake but was speedy to absorption connected the value of the effect for Argentina's campaign.

'I americium precise blessed due to the fact that of this victory,' Messi said. 'This was a precise important and pugnacious victory. We worked precise hard connected it. And that reassures america for what is coming next. This is simply a World Cup. All of the matches are precise intense. And each of the teams play well. And we are blessed due to the fact that we person six points and we are qualified.'

On the missed punishment itself, Messi was candid astir the prime of his effort portion emphasising the team's response.

'I bask playing, experiencing large emotions connected the pitch,' helium said. 'There was a infinitesimal erstwhile it became hard due to the fact that of the missed punishment — I deed it precise poorly — but fortunately we were capable to crook things around, instrumentality the pb and locomotion distant with the 3 points, which was the astir important thing.'

Messi reluctant to azygous retired favourite World Cup goal

With his tally present lasting astatine 18, Messi was asked to place which of his record-breaking goals holds the astir idiosyncratic significance. The Argentina skipper was successful nary temper for reflection, however, admitting exhaustion aft different demanding evening.

'No, I cannot adjacent remember, I americium truthful tired,' helium said. 'We are going to bask this infinitesimal and observe with my team-mates. Everything that has happened up to this constituent has been spectacular. The punishment I missed — I could person scored 1 much there, but what tin you do. We support going similar this. You ne'er cognize what tin happen, but I americium blessed with our result, our show and the enactment of the team.'

Messi, who has scored 12 World Cup goals since turning 35, has present scored successful six consecutive World Cup fixtures dating backmost to 2022 and reached 121 goals successful full for the Argentina nationalist side. 

Scaloni's broadside look Jordan successful their last Group J fixture connected Saturday, with qualification already secured, and Messi volition person the accidental to widen his grounds further earlier the knockout rounds begin.