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Lionel Messi admitted he was 'very angry' after missing an early penalty during Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria at the World Cup. However, the Argentine captain quickly composed himself in Dallas, scoring twice to become the all-time leading goalscorer in the history of the tournament.

Messi overcomes penalty setback

The defending champions confirmed their place in the knockout stage in Texas, even though their captain sent an eighth-minute penalty wide of the post — his third missed spot-kick in World Cup play (excluding shootouts). The veteran forward quickly made amends, scoring the opener before half-time and adding a composed finish in second-half stoppage time. With those two goals, Messi took his tournament tally to five goals in just two matches.

Captain vents frustration over penalty miss

The Argentina skipper admitted he was frustrated with his miss from 12 yards before motivating his teammates to push forward.

Messi said: "Today there was a moment where I was very angry about the penalty because I missed it. I kicked it very badly, and well, luckily we were able to turn that situation around, take the lead and get the three points, which is what's important.

"Obviously, getting the victory was part of our plan. We knew it wouldn't be easy, especially with how the World Cup is going. Every game is difficult, no one gives away anything. It's true they didn’t hurt us much, but it was a tight, intense match that was tough to play. They were very quick. But what matters most is qualification."

Historic record adds gloss to triumph

By scoring his 17th and 18th World Cup goals, Messi surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose to become the tournament’s all-time top scorer. His exceptional display lifted Argentina to the top of Group J, easing pressure ahead of their final group fixture.

Despite achieving another personal milestone, Messi remained humble, adding: "Our goal is always to win every match. We are Argentina, and we aim to beat every opponent, but we know it’s never easy and we have to prove it on the pitch – and today, Argentina did just that. It was hard for us to control possession as we wanted. They didn’t cause us too much trouble, but it was a very close game and they played at high speed.

"I’m happy with how the matches have gone and especially with the victory. Getting six points and qualifying for the round of 32 was one of our first goals — and finishing first in the group too.

"Now we can have a relaxed week knowing we’ve achieved our initial target. We’ll focus on what comes next. And yes, I experience it as something special, as I always do. Like I said before, I enjoy playing and being out on the pitch."

Argentina prepare for knockout rounds

Lionel Scaloni’s men will wrap up their group stage campaign against Jordan on Saturday, aiming to maintain their perfect record. With qualification already confirmed, the coaching team can afford to rotate their key players to preserve energy for the demanding knockout stages ahead.

Argentina are projected to face the runners-up from Group H in the round of 32 — a matchup that could potentially see them meet European powerhouse Spain in an early blockbuster clash.