He scored a hat-trick on his 200th cap. He tied the all-time World Cup scoring record. He did it at 38 years old, just six days before his 39th birthday. And now Lionel Messi — the man who was supposed to be too old for this tournament — walks out at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas today against Austria, with the outright record within touching distance.
This is Messi’s Last Dance. And right now, it looks like nobody told him it’s supposed to be slow.
The Record That’s There for the Taking
When Messi bagged all three goals against Algeria in Kansas City last week, he reached 16 World Cup goals — drawing level with Germany’s Miroslav Klose, the only man ahead of him on the all-time list. One more today and Messi stands alone at the top of football history. Just one goal, in what is likely one of his final few World Cup appearances. The buildup to this match has been consumed by that single, tantalising question: when does he get it?
What made that Algeria performance even more extraordinary was the context. Before kick-off, whispers circulated that Messi was carrying a knock. That he might be managed carefully. That at 38, the body simply couldn’t sustain the intensity of a World Cup. Then he scored a long-range thunderbolt, tap-danced through a rebound, and curled a left-footed finish into the bottom corner. Three goals. One night. And it happened 20 years to the day after his very first World Cup appearance as a teenage substitute.
This man is not normal.
Austria Aren’t Here to Be Tourists
For all the Messi hype, don’t sleep on Austria. Ralf Rangnick — nicknamed “The Godfather of Gegenpressing” — has built a side that works harder off the ball than almost anyone in this tournament. Their 6.5 passes per defensive action in their opener against Jordan ranked among the best of any team so far. They press relentlessly, they win the ball high, and they believe in their system.
They beat Jordan 3-1 in their Group J opener, with Romano Schmid opening the scoring via a stunning curling effort from outside the box. Veteran striker Marko Arnautović, now 37, showed he still has something left, converting from the spot in stoppage time.
Austria captain David Alaba set the tone all week: “We know what kind of quality they have in their ranks, even besides Messi, but also what they’re capable of as a team.”
That’s the kind of opponent who gives Argentina bad dreams. Algeria forced 40 turnovers in their game against La Albiceleste, which offers a blueprint. If Austria can execute it, and make it scrappy in Dallas, this could be a proper contest.
The Stakes
A win here seals Argentina’s place in the Round of 32 with a game to spare. A loss or draw makes the final group game against Jordan a nervy, must-not-lose affair. Lionel Scaloni’s side won’t want to leave anything to chance — not with the pressure of defending their 2022 title.
Argentina have won eight consecutive games coming into this tournament, keeping clean sheets in all but one. They have Rodrigo De Paul bossing midfield, Mac Allister pulling strings, and Lautaro Martínez lurking in the box. This is not a one-man team.
But let’s be honest. Everyone watching today — in Arlington, at home, on a laptop in a café — will be watching for one reason. That magical No. 10 shirt. That left foot. That record.
Miroslav Klose, who scored 16 goals across four World Cups over sixteen years, said he’d be happy to share the record with Messi. After today, he might not get the choice.
The Last Dance is just getting started.
