France, June 23 -- The 38-year-old, who is playing at a sixth tournament, clocked up his 17th and 18th strikes during the game against Austria at the Dallas Stadium.

His first chance to pass the 16 goals of the Germany striker Miroslav Klose ended in failure.

He fluffed a penalty that was awarded after Lautaro Martinez was felled in the area three minutes into the match.

But Messi redeemed himself on 38 minutes.

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Argentina broke in a counterattack and after Alexis Mac Allister's surge down the left wing, he slid the ball into the Austria penalty area and Messi guided it past the Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager.

His second was rammed home through a thicket of Austrian defenders ...