Messi scored multiple goals in the second group match against Austria, marking his 18th goal in the World Cup. This record surpassed the previous record of 16 goals held by Germany's Miroslav Klose, making him the player with the most goals in World Cup history. Despite the painful mistake of missing a penalty kick early in the game, he gave his team the lead by scoring the first goal in the 38th minute of the first half with unwavering concentration. Then, in extra time in the second half, he showed tenacity in chasing the ball until the end in a chaotic situation in front of the goal, scoring his 18th goal, which sealed the victory. The fact that Messi is responsible for all five goals scored by Argentina in this tournament proves that he is still the alpha and omega of Argentina's attack.

Praise for Messi is pouring in both on and off the pitch, and it's more than just praise - it's an expression of respect. National team coach Lionel Scaloni said he was no longer surprised by Messi's performance and expressed gratitude for being able to live and enjoy the game at the same time as him. Fellow defender Nahuel Molina looked up to him not just as a teammate, but as the team's idol and guide, and confessed that he was extremely lucky to work with him. Leading overseas media outlets are also paying attention to his performance, which shows no signs of decline even at the age of 39. Reuters and the Associated Press emphasized that he achieved a record of scoring in six consecutive World Cup games, proving that his ability to penetrate space and decision-making power are still among the best in the world.

This North and Central America World Cup is gaining interest not only because it is Messi's solo performance, but also because he is scoring at a very fast pace overall. The cumulative score exceeded 100 goals in just 33 games since the start of the tournament, the fastest pace in 68 years since the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. However, apart from this firepower, this tournament is also attracting great attention due to the particularly frequent own goals. Eight own goals have already been recorded, and considering that only about a third of the entire schedule has been played, it is highly likely that the team will break the all-time record for most own goals. This suggests that in modern soccer, defenders are often placed in unpredictable situations due to strong pressure and quick transitions between offense and defense.

Looking inside the competition, various narratives coexist along with Messi's record-breaking performance. Salah rewrote history by leading Egypt to victory, and the fierce battle between Jordan and Algeria clearly demonstrated the inherent tension of the World Cup. In addition, factors outside of the game, such as the reassignment of the referee who was involved in the 'Miracle of Doha' four years ago, are stimulating the nostalgia of soccer fans. Despite a series of own goals and a mix of good and bad luck, the giant sun called Messi is leading the planet Argentina and running toward the tournament without hesitation. This year's World Cup, which has expanded to 48 countries and greatly increased the number of games, is creating more drama than ever before.