Argentina advanced to the round of 16 in the 2026 World Cup after defeating Austria 2-0, fueled by two goals from Lionel Messi. The victory comes just days before the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona’s iconic “Hand of God” goal. Messi’s performance establishes him as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history. Despite an early missed penalty and strong defensive play from Austria, Messi overcame initial struggles to deliver a decisive performance. He scored the opening goal in the 38th minute, capitalizing on a well-placed pass. Argentina’s strong support and team cohesion ultimately proved too much for Austria to overcome, solidifying Messi’s legacy on the world stage.