Messi scored a hat-trick against Algeria, drawing level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals and becoming the oldest player to score more than once in a World Cup match. Now he faces a back line marshalled by David Alaba, back after the knee injury that kept him out of Euro 2024. Argentina and Austria have never met at a World Cup; the last time these nations played was 36 years ago, a friendly in Vienna. In Texas on Monday, one of them takes the biggest step toward the last 32 — both won their openers and sit top of the group, separated only by goal difference.
The market
Argentina come in on six straight wins. Across their last six matches they have scored 17 and conceded just one, and against Algeria Scaloni barely had to touch the bench — Julián Álvarez came on in the 55th minute. Messi, Emiliano Martínez and Álvarez are all fit despite earlier doubts, and the one notable call in the starting XI was Facundo Medina getting the nod at left-back over Nicolás Tagliafico — selection, not injury.
Austria also won their opener, but the picture is different. Ralf Rangnick's side needed a late own goal and a Marko Arnautović penalty in the 102nd minute to see off Jordan, debutants who never lost their nerve. Arnautović thought he had put them ahead in the 67th minute, only for the goal to be ruled out for a handball by Stefan Posch after a VAR review. The defence is experienced, with Alaba at its heart, and Christoph Baumgartner was reportedly left out of the starting XI for the opener. The big question is simple: Austria step up from facing debutants to facing the holders and the world's top-ranked side.
LAST 6 MATCHES
This game likely turns on whether Austria's high press can disrupt Argentina's build-up. Rangnick builds everything on relentless pressing, and Konrad Laimer is the engine of it — he covers the ground and sets the tempo. The aim is to close the passing lanes before the ball can find Messi between the lines.
The problem is that Argentina are built precisely to keep the ball under that kind of pressure. In midfield, Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández and Alexis Mac Allister control the tempo, and the moment the press leaves gaps, Argentina's pace in transition and Messi's vision are the likeliest decisive factors. Against a deep-sitting Jordan, Austria created almost nothing from open play — but pressing high against a side that punishes every open space is a different challenge entirely. If Laimer and company can keep Argentina hemmed in without giving up ground behind them, they have a chance. If they can't, it won't be long before Messi finds the gap.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
THE PICK
Argentina are simply a level above, and they haven't yet had their defence properly tested in this run. Austria struggle to create against organised resistance, so the pick leans to an Argentina win with the holders keeping another clean sheet.
The risk cuts two ways. On one side, Argentina's attacking power can turn a controlled win into a rout — if it finishes 3-0 or 3-1, the under is gone. On the other, if Austria get a set piece into the box with Alaba delivering and Kalajdzic or Arnautović on the end of it, the "both teams to score: no" call falls apart. But for that to happen, Austria have to do what they couldn't against Jordan: create a real chance.
Icelandic viewers have a fresh point of reference: Argentina beat Iceland 3-0 in Alabama on 9 June, their final match before the tournament, with Messi coming on in the 70th minute and scoring from the spot. Kick-off is at 17:00 Iceland time, live on RÚV, where Eiður Smári Guðjohnsen and Bjarni Guðjónsson are among the pundits.