Lionel Messi needs one more goal to stand alone at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring charts. Argentina need one more win to secure their place in the knockout round.
Monday’s 1 p.m. ET kickoff at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas gives the reigning world champions the chance to deliver on both counts against an Austria side that has impressed but faces a clear step up in class.
Here are the best bets and BetOnline odds for Argentina vs Austria.
USA Today Argentina vs Austria Predictions
- Messi Anytime Goalscorer -105
- Argentina to Win -190
- Over 2.5 Goals +100
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USA Today Argentina vs Austria Prediction: Messi Anytime Goalscorer -105
Messi’s hat-trick against Algeria in Matchday 1 was the defining moment of the tournament’s opening round. It moved him level with Miroslav Klose on 16 World Cup goals, and a 17th at AT&T Stadium would make him the outright all-time record holder in the competition’s history.
The performance data backs the selection just as strongly as the headline numbers do.
Messi attempted six shots against Algeria, more than all of his attacking teammates combined, and finished three of them with finishing that had no right to look as comfortable as it did given the quality each chance required.
He has scored in five of his last seven outings for the national team and has delivered on the biggest occasions consistently throughout this tournament cycle.
Austria will set up to be difficult. David Alaba is an experienced organiser at the back and Ralf Rangnick’s defensive structure is not easy to unpick. But their Matchday 1 win over Jordan flattered them considerably.
They needed an own goal to go ahead, missed three of their four big chances and required a stoppage-time penalty to reach 3-1. The structure Rangnick deploys may slow Argentina down but it is unlikely to stop Messi from getting his opportunities. At -105, this is the standout individual bet of the day.
USA Today Argentina vs Austria Prediction: Argentina Win -190
Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Algeria was built on something more sustainable than Messi’s brilliance alone. Lionel Scaloni’s side were defensively excellent throughout, limiting their opponents to zero shots on target and just 14 touches inside the penalty area over 90 minutes.
Their expected goals total of 1.3 in attack tells you everything about how efficiently they converted. This is a team that does not need to dominate possession or create chances in volume. They are clinical enough to make the most of what they get.
Austria generated just 0.39 expected goals against Jordan, a result that masked a performance far closer than the 3-1 scoreline suggested. Marcel Sabitzer and Romano Schmid carry quality going forward, but the step up from Jordan to Argentina’s backline is significant.
Argentina have conceded in just one of their last eight international matches. The -190 moneyline on BetOnline reflects their status as the most complete side at this tournament and is fair price against this level of opposition. Do not back this past -200.
USA Today Argentina vs Austria Prediction: Over 2.5 Goals +100
Both sides scored three goals in their respective Matchday 1 fixtures. Each of Argentina’s last five World Cup matches has produced more than 2.5 goals. The market has this at even money and it represents the best value on the card.
Austria will not sit deep and absorb pressure. That is not how Rangnick builds his teams. They will press aggressively and look to win the ball in advanced areas, which generated 40 turnovers against Argentina in the Algeria match, 12 of which came in the final third.
If Austria can replicate that disruption, they create situations from which a goal is possible. Their set-piece delivery is a genuine threat and Marko Arnautovic gives them a physical presence in the box that Jordan could not provide.
Argentina’s forward line does not require sustained domination to score. Lautaro Martinez and Julian Alvarez both create and finish at the highest level, and Messi arriving late into space behind them adds a third dimension that Austria’s defensive midfield will struggle to track.
Over 2.5 goals at +100 on BetOnline pays even money and needs nothing more than Argentina to score as freely as they have across recent tournaments.
Score Prediction: Argentina 3-1 Austria
Argentina vs Austria Odds
- Argentina Win -190
- Draw +320
- Austria Win +600
- Messi Anytime Goalscorer -105
- Over 2.5 Goals +10
How to Watch Argentina vs Austria
- Date: Monday, June 22, 2026
- Kickoff: 1 p.m. ET
- Stadium: AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- TV: FOX
