CORNERFLICK
Lionel Messi became the leading scorer in World Cup history as Argentina beat Austria, with the No 10 striking twice in a match that never fully settled around him.
Argentina’s main media has already pushed the Messi-versus-Maradona debate further, but this game was about the record. Messi missed a penalty after several attempts to place the ball, yet stayed involved and found another way through.
Austria kept him tightly marked and tried to stop him turning, but Messi kept drifting into space, linking with Enzo Fernández and Thiago Almada, and eventually produced the decisive finish with his left foot. The move came after a clever exchange involving Almada and gave Argentina the goal they had been waiting for.
Even after the missed spot-kick, Messi kept scanning for gaps, holding the ball with his back to goal and slowing the game when Austria pushed forward. At 38, he still changed the rhythm every time he touched it.