The player widely regarded as the greatest of all time pounced late in the first half in Texas with a trademark left-footed finish after neat build-up play.

The 38-year-old maestro broke the deadlock in the 38th minute, capping off a sleek team move with a precise, clinical finish into the bottom corner.

Now Lionel Scaloni's assistant with Argentina, Aimar enjoys a unique place within the world champions' set-up. Not only was he Messi's childhood hero, but he has also had a front-row seat to the captain's extraordinary journey since joining the national team's coaching staff in 2018.

When Argentina take on Austria in their crucial FIFA World Cup 2026 Group J clash in Dallas tonight, Lionel Messi will have the chance to emulate one of Diego Maradona’s most memorable feats in the famous Albiceleste jersey.

Standing in their way is an Austrian side energised by Ralf Rangnick's demanding philosophy, one built on intensity, pressing and chaos.

Discover the untold childhood struggles of football icon Lionel Messi, from facing growth hormone deficiency in Rosario to signing his historic 2000 Barcelona napkin contract. His legendary journey inspires deep admiration for unmatched athletic perseverance.

Lionel Messi is now a free man. He has been ever since he inspired Argentina to lift their third World Cup four years back in Qatar in 2022, completing the one missing piece of a career that already stood at the summit of football.

Argentina vs Austria [ Monday, 11pm, Bangladesh Time]

Lionel Messi has 16 World Cup goals in total and needs one more to become the outright all-time top-scorer in the tournament's history when the two sides meet in Texas on Monday.

Aside from the Messi incident, the referees have made their uncompromising statement.

Speculation over the health of 68-year-old Jorge Messi has intensified after Argentina skipper Messi broke down in tears after scoring the first of his three goals in a 3-0 World Cup victory over Algeria on Tuesday.

One pass to find him. One drop of the shoulder to leave them grasping at straws. And one touch to burst into space and bend the game to his will. It was all Argentina needed.

Brazil's fiercest football rivals Argentina had a far better time, with Messi scoring three goals against Algeria on Tuesday.

Before the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, one of the most anticipated storylines was the race to break Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup goalscoring record.

The proof of Messi-De Paul’s telepathic alchemy manifested beautifully on Wednesday morning as the lights of Kansas City illuminated screens across the world.

The footballing community - from awe-struck teammates and rival coaches to a glittering panel of global pundits -was left searching for answers, and adjectives, to describe a performance that felt both timeless and utterly supernatural.

Lionel Messi savoured a "beautiful moment" after becoming the World Cup's joint all-time leading goalscorer on Tuesday but said "ultimately, it is just a statistic, nothing more".

Lionel Messi’s first World Cup hattrick saw him equal Miroslav Klose’s record 16 goals, but his landmark display was overshadowed by debate over a controversial challenge.

Algeria coach Vladimir Petkovic said mistakes from his team had made it easier for Lionel Messi to score the hat-trick that saw him match the World Cupscoring record in Argentina's 3-0 victory in Kansas City on Tuesday.

The 38-year-old Argentina captain etched another memorable chapter in his glittering career with a brilliant hat-trick in the South Americans' 3-0 win over Algeria at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium.