History in Dallas: Messi Scores Record-Breaking 17th Goal to Give Argentina Lead at Half-Time
Lionel Messi has officially become the all-time top scorer in FIFA World Cup history with his 17th goal, putting Argentina 1-0 ahead against Austria at half-time in their Group J clash at the Dallas Stadium .
History in Dallas: Messi Scores Record-Breaking 17th Goal to Give Argentina Lead at Half-Time
It was a night of high drama and redemption for the Argentine captain. After missing a first-half penalty that would have instantly broken the record, Messi was clearly frustrated . The crowd at the AT&T Stadium was left in stunned silence when he dragged the spot-kick wide. For a moment, it seemed like the weight of history was playing on his mind. However, Messi proved exactly why he is considered the greatest.The history-making moment came in the 38th minute from open play. A swift counter-attack saw Facundo Medina deliver a precise cut-back to Messi on the edge of the box, and he made no mistake this time, curling a left-footed strike into the bottom corner to make it 1-0 . That goal moved him past Germany's Miroslav Klose (16 goals) to claim the record he has been chasing for over a decade .The first half saw Argentina dominate possession, forcing Austria to defend deep and look for counter-attacking opportunities. Austria had a goal ruled out for offside early on, and their high-pressing strategy kept Argentina from fully settling into a rhythm . Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni made one change, bringing in Nahuel Molina, while Austria celebrated Marcel Sabitzer's 100th cap .
As the second half gets underway, the big question is whether Argentina can add to their lead and whether the newly crowned record-holder, who turns 39 in two days, will add to his tally .
Source: TrendyBeatz
