Messi's record-breaking night

Football writes the ultimate scripts, but Lionel Messi’s historic night in Dallas was almost too theatrical to believe.

The night began with a collective gasp when the 38-year-old maestro uncharacteristically dragged a ninth-minute penalty wide, becoming the first player to miss from the spot at this tournament. Yet, true kings are defined by how they rise. In the 38th minute, early agony turned to absolute ecstasy as Messi smashed home a clinical opener to claim his 17th World Cup goal, leaving teammates and fans in raptures.

The ultimate coronation arrived in the 95th minute. Sealing a 2-0 victory over Austria, Messi buried his second of the night to claim his 18th goal - surpassing Marta to break the absolute World Cup scoring record. 

Relive the unbridled emotion of a night built for footballing royalty.

Photos: Reuters / AFP