Argentina Faces Austria in 2026 World Cup Opener as Messi Targets World Cup Record

Argentina will kick off its 2026 World Cup campaign on Monday against Austria at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with Lionel Messi aiming to break the all-time World Cup scoring record, according to Sports Illustrated. The Albiceleste secured a 3-0 victory over Algeria in their opening match, with Messi scoring a hat trick to tie Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 career World Cup goals, as confirmed by FIFA.

Why Is Messi’s Record Significant?

Messi’s three goals against Algeria on June 13, 2026, marked his 16th in World Cup history, equaling the mark set by Germany’s Miroslav Klose. The Inter Miami forward is expected to start against Austria, with the opportunity to surpass the record in the Group J clash, per Sports Illustrated. Klose’s record, established during the 2002–2010 tournaments, has stood for over a decade, making Messi’s potential achievement a focal point of the 2026 campaign.

How Will Argentina’s Lineup Shape Up?

Argentina is expected to name an unchanged starting XI, with goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez retaining his spot after a clean sheet against Algeria. Right-back Nahuel Molina is set to replace the injured Gonzalo Montiel, while Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez will form the central defense. The midfield trio of Rodrigo De Paul, Alexis Mac Allister,