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