Lionel Messi will be one of Argentina’s main goalscoring options as the world champion takes on Austria at the FIFA World Cup 2026. | Photo Credit: Getty Images via AFP

Defending champion Argentina will look to continue its form at the FIFA World Cup 2026 as it takes on Austria in its second group-stage match in Texas on Monday.

Ralf Rangnick’s side opened its campaign with a 3-1 victory over debutant Jordan, while the Albiceleste thumped Algeria 3-0, riding on a Lionel Messi hat-trick.

For the better part of twenty years, Lionel Messi has been manipulating football’s sense of time. Once-permanent records have evolved into significant turning points in his gameplay.

The conundrum of how to stop Messi when a contest starts to revolve around him has stayed frustratingly familiar despite changes in defenders, managers, and even the shape of Argentina surrounding him.

Austria will be the next team asked to find an answer to that question.

Argentina vs Austria head-to-head:

• Total matches: 3
• Argentina: 1
• Austria: 1
• Draws: 1

Argentina vs Austria form guide:

Argentina: W W W W W

• Argentina 3-0 Algeria
• Argentina 3-0 Iceland
• Argentina 2-0 Honduras
• Argentina 5-0 Zambia
• Argentina 2-1 Mauritania

Austria: W W W W D

• Austria 3-1 Jordan
• Austria 1-0 Tunisia
• Austria 1-0 South Korea
• Austria 5-1 Ghana
• Austria 1-1 Bosnia and Herzegovina

Argentina vs Austria predicted line-ups:

Argentina: Emiliano Martínez; Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Facundo Medina; Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister; Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez, Thiago Almada.

Austria: Alexander Schlager; Konrad Laimer, Philipp Lienhart, David Alaba, Philipp Mwene; Nicolas Seiwald, Xaver Schlager; Romano Schmid, Carney Chukwuemeka, Marcel Sabitzer; Saša Kalajdžić

Published on Jun 22, 2026