A Historic Night in Dallas
This is not just a report of Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria. This is the story of Lionel Messi. About a player who refuses to age. It started with a missed penalty. The Dallas stadium suddenly fell silent. For a moment, thousands of fans seemed to hold their breath. Messi sent the ball to the left, but it veered out. History had to wait.
The cameras remained focused on the penalty spot, where just moments earlier, the most magical figure in football stood. History likes to play tricks. Sometimes it takes you to the threshold but refuses to let you knock. This was Messi's third missed penalty in World Cup history - a record no player would want.
Exactly 40 years earlier, on the same day in 1986, Diego Maradona scored two immortal goals against England. However, today, Messi was on the wrong side of an unwanted statistic. It should have been a different day. Perhaps fate wanted to have fun.
A Comeback
But Messi is still Messi. Another chance came in the 18th minute. David Alaba made a saving tackle, and Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager made a brilliant save. Messi still stood at the threshold of history.
Then, in the 38th minute, the door finally opened. A cross from the left. Thiago Almada cleverly let the ball move with a dummy run. The ball rolled to Messi. No hesitation, no second thoughts. With the first touch, he sent the ball low into the left corner before Schlager could react. His 17th World Cup goal - the most in the history of the tournament. Miroslav Klose was surpassed. The record that always seemed destined for him finally became his.
Dallas roared. The stadium lights looked brighter. Messi ran to celebrate the win as his teammates rushed towards him.
Creating History Again
The people gathered at the corner of the field - and many more throughout the stadium who were crying - were not all Argentinians. This image will remain forever in the football archives. Standing at the threshold of his 39th birthday, just two days away, he carved his name deeper into history.
But the story is not over. Austria continued to fight. With Marco Arnautovic and Marcel Sabitzer, they built resistance and played with intensity. However, they lacked direction and, ultimately, someone to finish the job.
Then came the final phase. In the 5th minute of extra time, Juliรกn รlvarez's attempt was blocked. Messi grabbed the rebound, but it was also blocked. The ball came back to him again. This time, no mistake. The ball shook the net. Argentina 2-0 Austria. Messi's 18th World Cup goal, further distancing himself from Klose.
The Everlasting King
Argentina has scored five goals in two matches in this World Cup, all from Messi. He even had a chance to complete a hat-trick from a late free kick, but his attempt narrowly missed the post. It didn't matter. The surprise of the missed penalty and the way he turned it into glory combined to create a story that will not be forgotten in Dallas.
Austria fought bravely. David Alaba, Alexander Prass, and Kevin Danso gave everything throughout the match. But when Messi stands in front of you, every calculation falls apart.
Argentina advanced to the knockout stage with six points from two matches. Austria's final group match against Algeria will be a battle for survival. But the night in Dallas did not belong to Austria. It did not belong to Argentina either. It belonged to Messi.
Starting with a missed penalty and ending with a historic goal, Messi absorbed the huge pressure and created a story unimaginable by any screenwriter. At the age of 39, he scored five goals in two World Cup matches. This man does not age. His football never ends.
---
*Original source: [en.prothomalo.com](https://en.prothomalo.com/sports/football/ez00d8clft)*