Austria 0 – 2 Argentina

WORLDCUP · June 22, 2026 · Final

🎧 Post-Game Report (audio)

Post-Game Recap

Argentina handled Austria two goals to nothing in World Cup group stage action, and it was never really in doubt once the Albiceleste found their footing. Austria had their moments early — three corner kicks, some pressure in the middle third — but they simply could not generate the kind of danger that threatened Emiliano Martínez in goal. He was barely tested, making just one save on the night, which tells you everything about how comfortable Argentina's defensive shape kept things.

Lionel Messi was the engine of the attack, leading all players with seven total shots, and when he was on the ball Austria had no clean answer. Enzo Fernández was a wall in midfield, racking up ten defensive interventions that snuffed out Austrian transitions before they could build any rhythm. Lisandro Martínez and Kevin Danso both finished with sixty-nine accurate passes, but Argentina's distribution was in service of a team that took twelve shots to Austria's six, and put five on frame compared to just one from the hosts.

Argentina's possession advantage of fifty-three point six percent wasn't dominant on paper, but they used it with purpose — and Austria's two offsides told the story of a team trying to push forward and getting caught out. Marcel Sabitzer managed only three shots and never looked like the difference-maker Austria needed him to be.

Argentina controlled this one from the moment they struck first and never let Austria breathe. That's your post-game report. Sports Desk, signing off.

AI-generated post-game report composed from the official play-by-play and box score.

Complete Play-by-Play

Show all 109 plays

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

First Half begins.

Offside, Argentina. Thiago Almada is caught offside. 2'

Penalty conceded by Stefan Posch (Austria) after a foul in the penalty area. 4'

Penalty Argentina. Lautaro Martínez draws a foul in the penalty area. 4'

Delay in match because of an injury Lautaro Martínez (Argentina). 4'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 6'

VAR Decision: Penalty Argentina. 7'

Penalty missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot is close, but misses to the right. 9'

Foul by Romano Schmid (Austria). 10'

Facundo Medina (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 10'

Michael Gregoritsch (Austria) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 11'

Foul by Lisandro Martínez (Argentina). 11'

Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina). 14'

Paul Wanner (Austria) wins a free kick on the left wing. 14'

Handball by Romano Schmid (Austria). 16'

Foul by Paul Wanner (Austria). 18'

Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 18'

Konrad Laimer (Austria) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 21'

Foul by Lautaro Martínez (Argentina). 21'

Delay in match because of an injury Rodrigo De Paul (Argentina). 21'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 22'

Attempt missed. Paul Wanner (Austria) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Stefan Posch with a cross. 23'

Attempt missed. Marcel Sabitzer (Austria) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Paul Wanner. 23'

Corner, Austria. Conceded by Cristian Romero. 23'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 23'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 26'

Corner, Austria. Conceded by Nahuel Molina. 29'

Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. 32'

Romano Schmid (Austria) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 32'

Foul by Facundo Medina (Argentina). 32'

Marcel Sabitzer (Austria) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 35'

Foul by Nahuel Molina (Argentina). 35'

Goal! Argentina 1, Austria 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Facundo Medina following a fast break. 38'

Stefan Posch (Austria) is shown the yellow card. 40'

Foul by Kevin Danso (Austria). 43'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 43'

Romano Schmid (Austria) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 44'

Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina). 44'

Romano Schmid (Austria) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 45'

Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina). 45'

Fourth official has announced 7 minutes of added time. 45'+1'

Konrad Laimer (Austria) wins a free kick on the left wing. 45'+2'

Foul by Lautaro Martínez (Argentina). 45'+2'

First Half ends, Argentina 1, Austria 0. 45'+7'

Second Half begins Argentina 1, Austria 0. 45'

Attempt missed. Marcel Sabitzer (Austria) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Nicolas Seiwald. 46'

Foul by Xaver Schlager (Austria). 48'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 48'

Offside, Argentina. Lionel Messi is caught offside. 50'

Foul by Xaver Schlager (Austria). 52'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 52'

Romano Schmid (Austria) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 53'

Foul by Enzo Fernández (Argentina). 53'

Konrad Laimer (Austria) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 54'

Foul by Cristian Romero (Argentina). 54'

Attempt saved. Marcel Sabitzer (Austria) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top centre of the goal by Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). 55'

Foul by Paul Wanner (Austria). 57'

Lautaro Martínez (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 57'

Substitution, Argentina. Nicolás Otamendi replaces Cristian Romero because of an injury. 57'

Attempt blocked. Enzo Fernández (Argentina) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Thiago Almada. 61'

Delay in match because of an injury Kevin Danso (Austria). 62'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 62'

Substitution, Argentina. Julián Alvarez replaces Thiago Almada. 64'

Substitution, Argentina. Nico González replaces Lautaro Martínez. 65'

Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Enzo Fernández. 65'

Attempt missed. Michael Gregoritsch (Austria) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Marcel Sabitzer with a cross. 67'

Substitution, Austria. Marco Friedl replaces David Alaba. 67'

Substitution, Austria. Alexander Prass replaces Stefan Posch. 68'

Substitution, Austria. Marko Arnautovic replaces Paul Wanner. 68'

Delay in match for a drinks break. 69'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 71'

Corner, Argentina. Conceded by Romano Schmid. 73'

Attempt missed. Nico González (Argentina) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Lionel Messi with a cross following a corner. 73'

Foul by Xaver Schlager (Austria). 75'

Enzo Fernández (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 75'

Foul by Konrad Laimer (Austria). 76'

Nico González (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 76'

Facundo Medina (Argentina) is shown the yellow card. 76'

Konrad Laimer (Austria) is shown the yellow card. 76'

Substitution, Austria. Patrick Wimmer replaces Romano Schmid. 78'

Delay in match because of an injury Emiliano Martínez (Argentina). 79'

Delay over. They are ready to continue. 80'

Corner, Austria. Conceded by Facundo Medina. 81'

Substitution, Argentina. Leandro Paredes replaces Rodrigo De Paul. 82'

Substitution, Argentina. Nicolás Tagliafico replaces Facundo Medina. 82'

Substitution, Austria. Carney Chukwuemeka replaces Michael Gregoritsch. 85'

Attempt blocked. Nico González (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Lisandro Martínez with a through ball. 86'

Attempt blocked. Enzo Fernández (Argentina) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. 86'

Foul by Patrick Wimmer (Austria). 88'

Nicolás Tagliafico (Argentina) wins a free kick in the defensive half. 88'

Patrick Wimmer (Austria) wins a free kick on the left wing. 89'

Foul by Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina). 89'

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time. 90'

Foul by Patrick Wimmer (Austria). 90'+1'

Nico González (Argentina) wins a free kick on the left wing. 90'+1'

Carney Chukwuemeka (Austria) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90'+2'

Foul by Leandro Paredes (Argentina). 90'+2'

Leandro Paredes (Argentina) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul. 90'+2'

Handball by Nicolás Otamendi (Argentina). 90'+3'

Attempt missed. Patrick Wimmer (Austria) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Kevin Danso with a headed pass following a set piece situation. 90'+3'

Attempt saved. Julián Alvarez (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Alexander Schlager (Austria). Assisted by Lionel Messi with a through ball. 90'+4'

Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. 90'+5'

Goal! Argentina 2, Austria 0. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box to the centre of the goal following a fast break. 90'+5'

Foul by Patrick Wimmer (Austria). 90'+7'

Lionel Messi (Argentina) wins a free kick in the attacking half. 90'+7'

Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Argentina) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the left from a direct free kick. 90'+8'

Second Half ends, Argentina 2, Austria 0. 90'+8'

Match ends, Argentina 2, Austria 0.