Lionel Messi cemented his place in World Cup history by becoming the competition's all-time leading goalscorer — and he was not done yet. The Argentina captain followed up that record-breaking moment by netting an 18th World Cup goal to put his side 2-0 ahead of Austria.

The milestone arrived during a single match in which Messi first surpassed the previous all-time record, then extended his tally further in the same game. Argentina's dominance over Austria was underlined by Messi's brace, as the South American giants controlled proceedings from front to back.

The goal added another chapter to Messi's remarkable tournament career, one that has seen him grow from a young prospect into the most prolific scorer the World Cup has ever witnessed. His 18th strike ensures there is now clear daylight between him and whoever previously held the record.

Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria demonstrated the team's attacking depth, with Messi at the heart of everything going forward. The result will only strengthen Argentina's confidence as they continue their World Cup campaign.