Argentina cruised to a 3-0 victory over Austria in their final Group J match at the 2026 World Cup, securing top spot in the group with a dominant performance.
Messi opens the scoring
Lionel Messi broke the deadlock in the 34th minute with a trademark free-kick from 25 yards, curling the ball over the wall and into the top corner. The goal was Messi's third of the tournament, putting Argentina in control before half-time.
Alvarez doubles the lead
Julian Alvarez doubled Argentina's advantage in the 58th minute, finishing a swift counter-attack with a composed left-footed strike past Austrian goalkeeper Heinz Lindner. The goal came after a precise through-ball from Enzo Fernandez, who also contributed a goal later in the match.
Fernandez seals the win
Enzo Fernandez capped off the scoring in the 77th minute, slotting home from close range after a defensive error from Austria allowed the ball to fall to him inside the box. The goal ensured a comfortable win for the South American side.
Group J standings
With the victory, Argentina finished top of Group J with nine points from three matches, while Austria ended in second place with four points. The result means Argentina will face a yet-to-be-determined opponent in the round of 16, while Austria progress as group runners-up.
According to Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, "The team showed great character and quality tonight. We are peaking at the right time." Austria coach Ralf Rangnick admitted, "Argentina were the better side. We have to learn from this and move forward."
Argentina dominated possession with 62% and registered 15 shots on goal, compared to Austria's 5. The win extends Argentina's unbeaten run to 12 matches.
