Messi’s record goal seals 1-0 half-time lead for Argentina against Austria

Argentina went into half-time leading Austria 1-0 in their World Cup clash in Dallas after Lionel Messi responded to an early penalty miss with a record-breaking goal in the first half.

The match saw a dramatic start for the Argentina captain, who missed a ninth-minute penalty by sending his effort wide, setting an unwanted World Cup record with three missed penalties in the tournament’s history.

However, Messi made amends in the 38th minute, finishing off a well-worked move. Facundo Medina delivered a cross from the left, while Thiago Almada’s clever dummy unsettled the Austrian defence, allowing Messi to strike a precise left-footed finish into the net to give Argentina the lead.

The goal also saw Messi move into outright first place as the highest scorer in World Cup history. The Argentina captain now has 17 goals in 28 World Cup appearances, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16.

The strike marked another milestone as Messi extended his scoring streak to six consecutive World Cup matches, equalling records held by France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.

Despite the early setback from the penalty miss, Messi’s decisive finish ensured Argentina ended the first half in control, leading 1-0 against Austria.