Lionel Messi is poised to break the all-time World Cup scoring record in an upcoming match at AT&T Stadium in Dallas. The Argentine forward matched Germany’s Miroslav Klose with 16 World Cup goals after scoring a hat trick in Argentina’s opening match against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City on Tuesday.

Messi’s three goals in the game not only brought him level with Klose but also made him the oldest player, at 38, to record a hat trick in World Cup history. The strong performance has heightened anticipation ahead of Argentina’s next group-stage match against Austria at Dallas Stadium, where Messi will have the chance to surpass the long-standing record.

The two matches in Dallas were known to fans for months, but the circumstances of Messi’s record-tying feat have added significant interest to the event. Argentina’s victory over Algeria demonstrated Messi’s continued impact at the highest level, underscoring his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

The upcoming fixture against Austria will be closely watched as Messi seeks to make history with a new milestone. His ability to perform at an elite level despite his age continues to draw widespread attention, while Argentina looks to advance through the group stage with the help of their star player’s scoring prowess.