Lionel Messi scored twice as Argentina defeated Austria 2-0 at the World Cup on Thursday, surpassing Miroslav Klose to become the tournament's all-time leading scorer with 18 goals.

The 38-year-old forward, playing two days before his 39th birthday, netted both goals in a performance that secured Argentina's qualification for the round of sixteen after only two matches. Messi entered the tournament with 13 World Cup goals, three behind Klose's previous record of 16.

"I was sure someone would break my record at this tournament," Klose said in remarks published before the opening match, "but I did not expect it after just two games."

All five of Argentina's goals at this World Cup have come from Messi. He scored a hat-trick in the opening match against Algeria before adding the double against Austria. The forward missed a penalty early in the Austria match but recovered to score twice and seal the victory.

FIFA match data confirms Messi has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, a feat previously achieved only by Just Fontaine in 1958 and Jairzinho in 1970. His current scoring run includes goals against Australia in the round of 16, the Netherlands in the quarterfinals, Croatia in the semifinals, and a double against France in the final of the previous tournament.

The achievement carries particular weight given Messi's 2016 retirement from international football. After Argentina lost three consecutive finals, the 2014 World Cup to Germany in extra time, and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals to Chile on penalties, Messi announced his departure from the national team, citing criticism and pressure from fans and media.

His return reversed that narrative. Argentina subsequently won two Copa America titles and a World Cup championship, with Messi's leadership credited as a key factor by the Argentine Football Association.

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"Messi is still a level above everyone else on the pitch," the association said in a statement after the Austria match.

Argentina's tactical approach has been built around maximizing Messi's strengths, a strategy that has delivered results despite concerns about the team's dependence on a single player. The reliance on one forward to provide every goal is unusual at this stage of a World Cup, but Messi's form has made the difference.

Questions about whether Messi would maintain his competitive edge at the international level followed his move to Inter Miami last year. His performance at age 38, however, has silenced such doubts. The forward continues to play at a level unmatched by most of his peers, with his six-match scoring streak standing as evidence of his enduring quality.

Klose's prediction that his record would fall at this tournament has proven correct, though the speed surprised many observers. Messi's 18 goals have come across multiple tournaments, but his current form suggests he may extend the record further in the knockout stages.

The pressure on Messi to deliver at major tournaments has been constant since his debut. His ability to perform under scrutiny, particularly at an advanced age for a professional footballer, has been noted by analysts and former players. The emotional burden of repeated disappointment in the mid-2010s led to his brief retirement, but his decision to return changed the trajectory of both his career and Argentina's fortunes.

With qualification secured, Argentina faces its final group match with the round of sixteen already guaranteed. The squad's early progression puts the team in a strong position, though the continued reliance on Messi for goals remains a tactical reality.

The 18-goal figure now stands as the benchmark for future generations. Messi's place alongside Fontaine and Jairzinho in the record books cements his legacy as one of football's greatest, with official tournament records confirming both Argentina's qualification and Messi's record-breaking achievement.

At 39, Messi continues to perform at a level that defines Argentina's campaign, with every goal scored by the team in the tournament so far coming from his boot. His two goals against Austria have already established him as the decisive force in Argentina's World Cup run.