After the 2-0 that secured the ticket to the next stage of the World Cup, the captain, who was once again the standout player of the match, acknowledged the difficulty of the game, lamented the missed penalty, and celebrated the team's effort
Beyond being the standout figure of the afternoon, the forward avoided focusing on his personal records and highlighted the physical toll the match took on him. "I am tired, it's hard for me to think. I enjoy this moment and I want to get back with my teammates”, he expressed.
One of the highlights of the match was the penalty he missed in the first half. Far from dodging the topic, the captain made a direct self-criticism about the execution. "The goals I scored came in a spectacular way. It's a shame about the penalty I missed. One never knows. We are happy with the result and what we achieved as a team", he commented. "I was frustrated because I missed the penalty. I kicked it very poorly, but we were able to turn the situation around", he added.
Messi also highlighted the commitment of the group and how the squad faces each challenge wearing the Argentine jersey. "We all live these matches as something special. The entire squad experiences it this way, now and throughout our time together, when we come together for competitions or friendlies. We enjoy competing, training, and bringing joy to the people", he pointed out.
With qualification already secured, the focus is on maintaining the level shown at the start of the tournament. "We will try to continue in this dynamic, in this rhythm. It's step by step, this is long and difficult. I enjoy every moment on the field", concluded the captain, who reappeared when Argentina needed him the most.
After his hat-trick in the debut against Algeria, Lionel Messi was once again decisive for the Argentine National Team. With two goals in the 2-0 victory over Austria, the captain led Lionel Scaloni's team to the Round of 16 of the 2026 World Cup.
Once the match was over, the Rosario star spoke with the media present at the stadium. During the conversation, the number 10 highlighted the value of a qualification achieved in a match that was much more demanding than the score reflected. "I am very happy. It was a hard-fought, tough victory. I hope it gives us peace of mind for what’s to come. This World Cup is very balanced. We are happy for the qualification", he stated.
The world champion acknowledged that Austria managed to create an uncomfortable and high-intensity match, especially during several passages of the game. "It was part of our plans to achieve both victories, but these are very balanced matches. There was a lot of intensity. At times, it was hard for us to maintain possession. They didn't harm us, but it was a very tough and intense match. We had to play very quickly", he analyzed.
Despite the difficulties, Messi emphasized that the main objective was to secure passage to the next round. "The important thing was the qualification. We are Argentina and we will always seek to win matches against any rival. We have to prove it on the field", he maintained.
