Messi Aims for World Cup Record as Argentina Takes on Austria

The Lionel Messi show is in Dallas as the Argentine star gets ready to make more football history. Argentina, the current World Cup champions, will face Austria on Monday.

Messi, who will be 39 on Wednesday, scored a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory against Algeria. This goal brought him level with Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 goals in World Cup history.

Messi was emotional after scoring his first goal, and it was later revealed that his father is recovering from a health problem.

The Inter Miami player had not confirmed his participation in the tournament in North America until the last minute. But no one really thought he would sit out as Argentina aims to be the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win back-to-back World Cups.

Four years ago, Messi led his country to World Cup success, and the chance to represent Argentina again on such a big stage was too good to pass up.

The Dallas Cowboys' impressive air-conditioned stadium will host Argentina’s second group game against Austria. It could be the perfect stage for Messi to break Klose’s record.

“In the end, it’s just a statistic and nothing more,” Messi, often considered the greatest footballer ever, said.

A win against Austria would put Lionel Scaloni’s team close to the last 32 as Group L winners, with one game left. This would allow Messi to rest before the knockout rounds.

Austria, led by respected coach Ralf Rangnick, will not give up easily. They are also looking to advance after beating debutants Jordan 3-1.

After the excitement of four years ago, it’s easy to forget that Argentine fans didn’t always see Messi as a superstar. There were times they felt he hadn’t performed as well for Argentina as he did during his 15 years at Barcelona.

Now, even as he approaches middle age, Messi’s presence inspires his teammates both on and off the pitch.

“If anyone thought this group was better off without Leo, today it became clear that Leo is the most important of them all,” midfielder Alexis Mac Allister said after the Algeria match.

Messi may not run as much as he used to and plays in bursts, but the rest of the Argentina team is more than willing to do the hard work and let him shine when he wants.

Scaloni, who played with Messi in his first World Cup in 2006, has created a strong bond around their captain.

“He’s playing with a group of friends, with people that are going to play with their heart for him,” the Argentina coach said.

“Whenever they need to have a conversation with him, they can just approach him. It’s really hard to explain what he conveys.

“I could stay here with you for over an hour trying to explain exactly what he does, but you need to be there to really understand. You need to understand the atmosphere, the ambience.”

Unlike Portugal, where an older Cristiano Ronaldo has become a challenge for coach Roberto Martinez, Argentina players have made it clear they will do everything to help Messi create problems for their opponents.

“He’s been my idol since I was a kid. Naturally, you want to repay that,” said his teammate Julian Alvarez.

Rodrigo De Paul, who also plays with Messi at Inter Miami, was even more direct: “He makes you want to go to war if he asks you to.”