Lionel Messi, the Argentinian forward, scored his 18th goal in World Cup qualifying matches during a game against Austria. The goal was scored during the second round of Group J matches for the 2026 World Cup. The match took place at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in the United States. This achievement adds to Messi’s impressive record in World Cup qualifying campaigns. The game represents a significant step for Argentina in their pursuit of qualification for the 2026 tournament. Further details regarding the final score and match statistics were not provided in the initial report.