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Messi on Brink of Two Historic Records Against Austria at World Cup 2026

Published

3 months ago

June 22, 2026

Argentina captain Lionel Messi edges closer to history as he targets two major World Cup records against Austria

Argentina national team captain Lionel Messi, aged 38, is on the verge of setting two historic milestones as the South American side prepares to face Austria in their second group-stage match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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Lionel Messi enters the fixture in exceptional form after scoring a hat-trick in Argentina’s opening match against Algeria, a performance that further strengthened his place in World Cup history and drew him level with Germany legend Miroslav Klose on the all-time tournament scoring chart.

Should Lionel Messi find the net against Austria, the Inter Miami forward would move outright at the top of the World Cup scoring list, setting a new record for the most goals in the competition’s history.

Beyond the goal-scoring milestone, Lionel Messi is also within reach of another historic achievement.

The Argentina captain requires just one more assist to become the outright record holder for the most assists in World Cup history, adding yet another layer to his already decorated international career.

The possibility of a double record-breaking night has generated global attention, with fans and analysts closely watching whether the veteran forward can extend his extraordinary legacy on football’s biggest stage.

Argentina’s coaching staff have continued to emphasise collective performance, but Messi’s influence remains central to their attacking structure as they progress through the tournament.

While Austria are expected to provide a disciplined defensive challenge, anticipation remains high that Messi could once again produce a defining moment in a competition where he has consistently delivered over the years.

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As the match approaches, attention will be firmly fixed on whether Lionel Messi can turn expectation into history and further cement his status as one of football’s most influential figures.

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Mariam Balogun

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Opinion

Why Are Football Fans Expecting Trophy Haul from Man City’s 114 Breaches?

Published

16 hours ago

September 30, 2026

Mariam Balogun

By Tai Emeka Obasi,

It is exceedingly terrible for clubs operating in a league as supremely elite as the English Premier League, EPL, to fraudulently cheat themselves to massive success.

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Rules are rules, and supposedly responsible club managements should comply with them in administering a game termed the beautiful game.

Manchester City is currently in the eye of the storm for all the wrong reasons.

A whopping 115 breaches were brought against the club, with reports now indicating that an independent commission found City guilty of 114 of them.

The club, however, maintains that the Premier League process remains ongoing, with significant elements still to be completed and subject to strict confidentiality.

Manchester City chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, has appealed to the fans to remain calm and faithful, insisting that the club will continue to defend its position and pursue the available legal process.

According to reports, Manchester City is expected to appeal the verdict. The sanctions have not yet been announced, and the possible consequences could include a heavy fine, points deduction, stripping of titles or even relegation.

From the available reporting, however, there is no basis for football fans to start celebrating the prospect of receiving Manchester City’s trophies.

Even if titles were eventually stripped, the relevant period under investigation is 2009 to 2018.

During that period, Manchester City won three Premier League titles, in 2011/12, 2013/14 and 2017/18, as well as three League Cups, in 2013/14, 2015/16 and 2017/18.

That immediately puts a different complexion on the matter.

For instance, Manchester United finished runners-up to City in the 2011/12 and 2017/18 Premier League seasons, while Liverpool finished second in 2013/14.

But whether those titles would actually be reassigned to the runners-up is another matter entirely.

There is no automatic rule that says a stripped title simply moves to the team that finished second. Any such outcome would depend on the eventual sanction imposed by the relevant authorities.

The same applies to Arsenal and the League Cup. Arsenal were beaten by City in the 2018 final, but that does not mean Arsenal would automatically inherit the trophy if City were sanctioned.

Expert opinion has suggested that the eventual punishment could include a substantial financial penalty and a huge points deduction, potentially severe enough to threaten City with relegation.

But until the sanction is formally determined, nobody can say with certainty what punishment Manchester City will receive.

For Gunners fans, therefore, we should lower our expectations from City’s debacle. Even if Manchester City are eventually found guilty after the appeal process and even if they are relegated, Arsenal will not stroll to this season’s title.

Our last match against Brighton and Hove Albion is a huge warning that our squad is not as complete as it is generally acclaimed to be.