GOAT Levels Up! Lionel Messi Celebrates 39th Birthday With Argentina Teammates

Last Updated:June 24, 2026, 23:49 IST

The genius from Rosario, who led Albiceleste to the WC crown in 2022, stands atop the goal-scorers list in the 2026 edition, despite his advancing age in a testament to his quality

Argentine superstar Lionel Messi celebrated his 39th birthday with his national team mates during the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 in USA.

The genius from Rosario, who led Albiceleste to the FIFA WC crown in 2022, stands atop the goal-scorers list in the 2026 edition.

Lionel Messi added another extraordinary chapter to his legendary career on Monday, scoring both goals in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria to secure a place in the World Cup round of 32 and set a new tournament scoring record.

Playing before 70,649 spectators in Arlington, Texas, the Argentina captain found the net once in each half, raising his World Cup goal tally to 18. In doing so, he surpassed the previous record of 16 goals, a mark he had equalled with a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening match as defending champions.

The performance was yet another milestone for the 38-year-old, who is competing in his sixth World Cup and continues to excel nearly twenty years after first appearing on football’s biggest stage.

Despite the historic outcome, Messi’s evening began in frustrating fashion. Argentina earned a penalty in the ninth minute when Lautaro Martínez was fouled inside the area, with the decision confirmed after a VAR review. As anticipation swept through the stadium, Messi stepped forward to take the spot kick but sent his shot wide.

The miss momentarily silenced the large contingent of Argentina supporters inside the air-conditioned stadium of the Dallas Cowboys. However, Messi quickly recovered from the setback and resumed directing Argentina’s attacking play.

Austria, under coach Ralf Rangnick, adopted a disciplined defensive approach, sitting deep and making life difficult for Argentina for extended periods. David Alaba played a crucial role in that resistance, denying Messi on two occasions before halftime. First, he stole the ball away just as the forward was preparing to shoot after weaving through defenders. Later, he blocked a goal-bound attempt with goalkeeper Alexander Schlager already beaten.

Austria’s stubborn defence was eventually breached in the 38th minute. Facundo Medina advanced down the left flank and delivered a pass into the penalty area. Thiago Almada intelligently let the ball run between his legs, leaving Messi free of his marker. The captain then calmly guided a left-footed finish into the net, triggering jubilant celebrations among Argentina’s fans.

The strike carried added significance, as it moved Messi ahead of every other player in World Cup history and gave him sole possession of the tournament’s all-time scoring record.

After the interval, Argentina dominated possession but struggled to extend their lead. Austria, who had opened their campaign with a 3-1 win over Jordan, showed greater attacking intent in the second half and enjoyed several promising spells. Nevertheless, they rarely troubled Emiliano Martínez, who was required to make only one serious save throughout the match.

As the contest entered stoppage time, Messi produced one final moment of brilliance. Receiving the ball near the edge of the box, he navigated his way through a cluster of defenders before applying a composed finish to put the result beyond doubt.

The victory guarantees Argentina’s progression to the knockout stage with one group match remaining and leaves them well positioned to finish atop Group J.

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