Messi becomes World Cup’s all-time scorer as Argentina clinch group

Messi scored a brace in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria on Monday, becoming the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history with 18 goals.aljazeera
Algeria’s 2-1 comeback win over Jordan confirmed Argentina as Group J winners and eliminated the World Cup debutants with a game to spare.aljazeera
Messi leads the Golden Boot race with five goals in two matches, ahead of Mbappé and Haaland with four each, according to the BBC.bbc

Algeria Comeback Sends Messi’s Argentina Through as Group Winners

Algeria staged a second-half rally to beat Jordan 2-1 on Monday, eliminating the World Cup debutants and confirming Lionel Messi’s Argentina as winners of Group J without needing to play their final match.

A Record-Breaking Day in Texas

Earlier on Monday, Messi scored twice as Argentina dispatched Austria 2-0 in Arlington, Texas, a result that guaranteed the defending champions a place in the round of 32. The 38-year-old’s first goal, a left-footed strike in the 38th minute, made him the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history with 17 goals, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose. He added a second to take his career World Cup tally to 18 and his tournament total to five, having opened the 2026 campaign with a hat trick in a 3-0 win over Algeria in Kansas City.olympics

Hours later in a separate Group J fixture, Algeria recovered from a goal down to beat Jordan 2-1 through second-half substitutes’ strikes, ending Jordan’s hopes of a first World Cup victory. The result left Algeria and Austria level on three points behind Argentina’s six, while Jordan were eliminated with two losses from two matches.sbnation

Golden Boot Race Takes Shape

Messi now leads the Golden Boot standings with five goals from two appearances, ahead of France’s Kylian Mbappé and Norway’s Erling Haaland, who each have four. According to the BBC, this marks only the second time in World Cup history that three players have scored four or more goals after just two group-stage matches, a feat last achieved in 1954. Mbappé scored twice in France’s 3-0 defeat of Iraq, while Haaland’s brace powered Norway past Senegal 3-2.yahoo

What Comes Next

Argentina will face Jordan in their final group match on Saturday, June 27, with first place already secured. The more consequential fixture that day pits Algeria against Austria, with both teams on three points and competing for the second automatic qualification spot or a place among the best third-placed finishers. The knockout rounds begin on June 28.yahoo