Argentina opened the 2026 World Cup with a commanding 3-0 demolition of Algeria – and now Lionel Messi, fresh off his first-ever World Cup hat-trick, targets all-time top scorer status against Austria in World Cup Group J.
The Argentina betting odds sit at -175 on the moneyline, making this a prop-and-parlay game rather than a straight-bet play. The same game parlay and Lionel Messi props are where the real value lives on June 22.
Argentina vs Austria Best Bet: Lionel Messi Anytime Goalscorer (+105)
This is not a sentimental pick – this is a plus-money bet on the best player in the world at his peak tournament form.
Messi posted 57 touches, seven progressive carries, and six shots worth 1.05 xG against Algeria. He opened the scoring in the 17th minute and has now scored in nine of 11 World Cup matches where he found the net as the opening goal.
At 38, Messi scored 13 goals in 16 appearances for Inter Miami before this tournament. His hat-trick against Algeria brought his all-time World Cup tally to 16, tying Miroslav Klose’s record.
A goal here makes him the undisputed all-time top scorer – and bettors can track his World Cup Golden Boot odds to see exactly how this prop ladders into futures value. Getting +105 on the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner in this kind of form is simply good value.
Argentina vs Austria Same Game Parlay Predictions
The SGP picks for Argentina vs Austria build four correlated legs into a projected +600 to +650 combined payout.
Leg 1 – Argentina to Win (-175): The foundational leg. Argentina have a five-match winning streak, outscoring opponents 15-1 in that span. Austria are live underdogs, not credible favorites. This leg anchors the parlay.
Leg 2 – Lionel Messi Anytime Goalscorer (+105): Already detailed above. Still plus-money after a hat-trick.
Leg 3 – Over 2.5 Goals (-106): Argentina scored three goals against a disciplined Algeria side that conceded rarely. Austria averaged 2.67 goals per game in their last 12 matches and beat Jordan 3-1 in their opener.
Both attacks generate volume. Bettors looking at the broader picture for this matchday should cross-reference the best World Cup predictions across top US sportsbooks to confirm the over consensus.
Leg 4 – Lautaro Martinez Anytime Goalscorer (+175): Lautaro Martinez operates as Argentina’s No. 9 in the 4-3-3, drawing defensive attention that creates the space Messi exploits. The +175 price on Argentina’s starting center-forward is generous given the role he plays in this attack.
Julian Alvarez also warrants a mention at approximately +200 to +250 anytime scorer – his box presence and work rate in Argentina’s front three make him a legitimate threat. The four-leg SGP remains the sharper play, but Alvarez as a standalone prop offers satellite value for bettors building around the core parlay.
Argentina vs Austria Betting Odds
- Argentina Moneyline: -175
- Draw: +310
- Austria Moneyline: +500
- Over 2.5 Goals: -106
- Under 2.5 Goals: -120
- Lionel Messi Anytime Scorer: +105
- Lionel Messi First Scorer: +300
- Lautaro Martinez Anytime Scorer: +175
- Julian Alvarez Anytime Scorer: +225
Bettors tracking Argentina‘s tournament trajectory – and the outright winner market movement after this result – can monitor the latest 2026 World Cup outright winner odds for real-time futures context. A dominant Group J win would accelerate their pricing as tournament favorites.
Argentina vs Austria: Group J Stakes at AT&T Stadium
Both sides arrive at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 1-0-0 in group play. A win for Argentina locks up top spot in Group J and shapes their entire knockout bracket.
Austria edged Jordan 3-1 in their opener and have lost just one of their last 12 matches – but this is a categorically different challenge.
This is Argentina’s first match against European opposition since the 2022 World Cup final. Lionel Scaloni’s side has kept 12 clean sheets in their last 17 matches and limited Algeria to a paltry 0.32 xG in the opener.
Austria averages 2.67 goals per game over their last 12, but those numbers were not produced against elite South American defensive setups.
