Live: Lionel Messi becomes World Cup’s all-time top goal scorer

Okay, so things are getting a little spicy out there.

Not long ago, Stefan Posch was given a pretty orange yellow for a late challenge.

We’re into seven minutes of added time at the end of the first hlaf.

Ok but maybe I am! That was why we needed that penalty miss, so he could deliver the record breaking goal in spectacular fashion.

The energy and feeling surging through this crowd is unreal. Yes, most have (over)paid thousands of dollars to be in here, but I’m sure they’ll all say it’s worth it for this moment.

And Messi pumped his fist several times after scoring, and he made sure to watch the replay on the big screen. WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW

There it is.

There he is.

Lionel Messi becomes the World Cup’s all-time record goalscorer.

The great man is found on the edge of the penalty area, and it’s a lovely, composed, side-footed effort low and into the net.

It’s the kind of goal we have seen him score hundreds and hundreds of times.

But this is a goal he’ll only ever score once.

It moves him to 17 World Cup goals, one ahead of Germany’s Miroslav Klose.

The chances, I imagine, will continue to come.

He’ll surely bury one sooner or later.

The Austrians have done well in the early stages here, after that penalty miss, I feel like the momentum has swung a bit in their favour and they’re frustrating the Argentines.

Messi has been looking to get more involved, but hasn’t had much space to work with so far.

Lautaro Martinez pressures Austrian goalkeeper
Alexander Schlagerhe and the ball bobbles up, falling invitingly to Leo Messi in the penalty area.

The little magician can’t, however, find enough power in his shot and it is easily blocked.

Austria begins the second stanza of the match with an attractive foray forward.

Konrad Laimer and Marcel Sabitzer combine down the left, eventually forcing a corner.

The ball is worked away by the Argentinian defence, Lautaro Martinez producing a bicycle kick to deliver one of the more memorable penalty-box clearances.

I think we’re all still a little shocked after that early, remarkable Leo Messi penalty miss.

ABC Sport’s Tom Wildie, on the ground in North America, certainly can’t believe it.

Austria is proving a very worthy opponent, defending strongly and finding itself well in this game.

A trademark, mazy run from Leo Messi and Dallas draws breath once again.

He is remarkable, cutting back and forth in the penalty area and making his way towards to goal.

However, his eventual effort is slightly weak and easily saved.

The Messi, Messi chants start before he even steps up to take the penalty, and despite the obvious disappointment afterwards, they actually increase in volume and start singing his name as if to will him to instead conjure something magical from open play instead.

So Messi is human, and history awaits once more…

Lionel Messi, one goal away from breaking the all-time World Cup goal record, places the ball as a hush falls on Dallas Stadium…

It’s a hop, skip and a stutter in the run-up, and…

THE PENALTY IS WIDE!

It’s a poor, weak penalty from the miracle worker, low and wide of the goalkeeper’s left-hand post.

It’s another slick push forward from Argentina.

Centre-forward Lautaro Martinez ends with the ball at his feet and with space to push into the penalty area.

He goes down under the pressure of two Austrian challenges.

The call on field is no penalty – but there’s a delay as Martinez stays down and VAR combs through the footage….

And yep, the referee is eventually asked to go and have a look at the monitor.

It looks like Stefan Posch has taken Martinez down and the penalty is given!

History beckons for Lionel Messi…

And it’s Thiago Almada who is neatly played into the box by Enzo Fernandez.

Almada charges towards the byline and slams the ball into the side-netting.

The crowd counts down to zero, and Argentina kicks us off, wearing their trademark blue and white stripes and kicking from left to right.

As Amanda has confirmed from on the ground, Dallas Stadium is pretty as a picture, filled with blue and white and Messi jerseys.

The national anthems are sung, and we are not far off from the start of a potentially history-making afternoon in Texas.

It’s about 95 per cent sky blue and white in here, but the small contingent of Austrian fans are making plenty of noise and getting pumped for the build up!

Everyone in here knows what a rare privilege it is to see the defending champions in action, and yes, of course the one and only Messi.

And oh boy what a roar, and what a moment to be part of as he leads his side onto the pitch. GOOSEBUMPS!!

In case you, somehow, missed it, Lionel Messi scored his first-ever World Cup hat-trick against Algeria, featuring two beauties and one deft tap in.

After big wins on Matchday 1, a win for either team today would see them secure group stage progression.

And it could also lock in top spot in the group, depending on results in the Jordan-Algeria game alter today.

Three changes for Austria, with Michael Gregoritsch coming in up front, Kevin Danso in the heart of defence and the exciting Paul Wanner in midfield.