Messi ... 'newsmaker' ... misses Penalty but scores two goals against Austria :::: Lionel Messi makes more 'World Cup history' as Argentina claims a fairly comfortable victory

Lionel Messi became the leading scorer in World Cup history as the captain struck twice to give Argentina a 2-0 win over Austria on Monday and send the champions into the last 32. 

These came at the important part of his career as he awaits his birthday on June 24th.  

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The star player widely regarded as the greatest of all time pounced late in the first half in Texas with a trademark left-footed finish after neat build-up play.

The predatory goal added to his hat-trick in Argentina's opening match to make it 17 in total at the World Cup.

He then sealed the match deep in injury time after a scramble in the box, as he outfoxed four defenders who lined up to keep the ball out.  

It should have been even better for Messi, who missed a penalty early on, stunning a fiercely pro-Argentina 70,649 crowd at the air-conditioned home of the Dallas Cowboys.

With both sides knowing a win would put them into the knockout rounds with a game to spare, Lautaro Martinez was brought down in the box, sandwiched by two Austrian players.

Referee Amin Mohamed gave a penalty after a VAR intervention, and a wall of noise went up as Messi stepped forward on nine minutes.