Lionel Messi and Argentina kick off Monday’s World Cup action with a Group J matchup against Austria. Messi is chasing history Monday afternoon after tying Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the all-time World Cup goalscoring record following the first World Cup hat trick of his career in a 3-0 win over Algeria last Tuesday.
Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute against Algeria before adding his second goal in the 60th minute and completing the hat trick in the 76th minute. While Messi was the only goalscorer in the shutout victory, Argentina still managed six shots on target. However, it wasn’t quite as dominant a performance as some of the tournament’s other early favorites have delivered.
Austria also opened its World Cup campaign with a victory, defeating Jordan 3-1 last Wednesday. Romano Schmid scored the opening goal in the 21st minute, but Jordan equalized shortly after halftime in the 50th minute. Austria caught a break when Jordan defender Yazan Al-Arab scored an own goal in the 76th minute to make it 2-1, and Marko Arnautović later converted a penalty in the 12th minute of stoppage time to seal the win.
With Argentina and Austria both earning three points in their opening matches, Monday’s showdown carries significant implications in the race for first place in Group J.
Argentina vs. Austria Current Odds
Argentina is one of the favorites to win the 2026 World Cup and features one of the greatest players the sport has ever seen. Unsurprisingly, Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook lists the defending champions as sizable favorites Monday afternoon.
- Argentina: -220
- Austria: +700
- Draw/Tie: +325
Argentina vs. Austria Predictions
A battle for first place in Group J with Messi chasing World Cup history — what more could a soccer fan ask for? Head over to Hard Rock Bet Sportsbook to get in on the action and check out the Stats Hub for soccer betting insights, trends, trackers, and standings throughout the tournament, where you can also find picks like the one below:
Argentina vs. Austria Best Bet: Lionel Messi Anytime Goalscorer
Messi made his mark in his 2026 World Cup opener, and now he has a chance to make history Monday afternoon. With one goal against Austria, Messi would become the World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer, breaking the tie with Germany’s Miroslav Klose. Both players currently sit on 16 World Cup goals.
The storyline is impossible to ignore, and it’s difficult to bet against a player of Messi’s caliber. If you think he’ll be the first goalscorer again, that market is available at +250. If you’re expecting another multi-goal performance, Messi to score 2+ goals is listed at +425, while 3+ goals sits at +1750.
- Argentina vs. Austria Player Prop Pick for June 22: Lionel Messi Anytime Goalscorer (-110)
Popular Props for Argentina vs. Austria
Messi is dominating the player prop markets, with his anytime goalscorer wager easily the most-bet prop heading into Monday’s match as he looks to make World Cup history:
- Lionel Messi – Anytime Goalscorer
- Lionel Messi – To Score 2+ Goals
- Julián Álvarez – Shots on Target Over 0.5
Argentina & Austria Group J Winner Odds
Both teams sit atop Group J with three points, meaning the winner of Monday’s match would take control of first place. Argentina enters as a significant favorite to win the group, while Austria owns the second-shortest odds among the four nations:
- Argentina to win Group J: -800
- Austria to win Group J: +550
Argentina & Austria World Cup Winner Odds
Defending champion Argentina owns the fourth-best odds to win the 2026 World Cup, while Austria remains a long shot despite its strong start to the tournament:
- Argentina to win the World Cup: +650
- Austria to win the World Cup: +15000
Argentina vs. Austria Match Info
- 📍 Location: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX
- 📅 Date: Monday, June 22
- ⏰ Start Time: 1:00 PM ET
- 📺 Where to Watch: FOX, Telemundo, FOX One
- 🏆 Stage: World Cup Group Stage
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Referenced odds are subject to change.
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