Ladbrokes previews Argentina vs Austria in Group J at the 2026 World Cup, with bet builder tips
Argentina backed to make it two wins from two, with Lionel Messi scoring again
Marko Arnautovic tipped to test Emi Martinez, while Alexis Mac Allister picks up a card
Ladbrokes brings you an in-depth match preview for Argentina vs Austria in Group J at the 2026 World Cup, including odds, predictions, and bet builder tips.
The holders got off to the perfect start in their opener against Algeria, with Lionel Messi's record-breaking hattrick guiding them to a comfortable victory, but as the side tipped to be their closest challenger in Group J, can Austria upset the odds in Texas?
Below, we've put together the ultimate Argentina vs Austria bet builder, with potential starting lineups, our score prediction, and the latest live betting markets - so read on!
Lionel Messi to become the top goalscorer in World Cup history
Kicking off our Argentina vs Austria bet builder, we're predicting a huge piece of history to be made by Lionel Messi, who will become the World Cup's all-time leading goalscorer if he finds the net in this one - so Ladbrokes' experts are backing him to score anytime.
A ridiculous hattrick in Argentina's opener showed everyone exactly what sort of shape the 38-year-old is in, with that magical left foot showing no sign of letting up any time soon, and as he hunts his 17th World Cup goal, there's no reason to suggest Austria will be able to stop the Golden Boot challenger from making the record his own. With 120 goals for his country, and almost 1000 throughout his career, words can't really do any justice for Lionel Messi anymore - but having already scored three goals in Group J to add to his eight in qualifying, he could hardly be in better goalscoring form, which spells serious trouble for Austria.
Lionel Messi to score for Argentina is the first pick of our World Cup bet builder, with the Inter Miami man adding another record to his endless list of honours.
Marko Arnautovic to have 1+ shots on target
From one man holding his nation's goalscoring record to another, Marko Arnautovic has been a key player for Austria for the best part of 20 years now, and we're tipping him to have at least one shot on target against Argentina.
Having come off the bench to great effect in Austria's opener, bagging his 48th international goal, the former Premier League marksman is tipped to start against the reigning world champions, and we're expecting him to test Golden Glove contender Emi Martinez. The 37-year-old had two shots on target in just 45 minutes against Jordan, and with an average of more than 1.5 SOT throughout the Serbian Super Liga season, he's always one to try his luck when given a yard - which he's more than capable of finding.
So the second pick of our Argentina vs Austria bet builder is for Marko Arnautovic to have 1+ shots on target, as the veteran striker looks to spearhead an upset in Group J.
Alexis Mac Allister to be shown a card
Switching our focus to the cards markets now, and we're tipping Liverpool and Argentina midfielder Alexis Mac Allister to be right in the thick of the action, picking up a booking on a full-blooded afternoon in Texas.
The combative 27-year-old is certainly no stranger to catching the referee's eye, earning seven bookings in the Premier League last season with an average of just over a foul per 90, and as he strives to protect his backline alongside Enzo Fernandez, we're expecting plenty of tough tackling from Mac Allister - even if Argentina will hope to have the majority of the ball. The diminutive midfielder committed two fouls in his country's opener, and against tougher opposition, we're predicting a similar story this time around.
So we're tipping Alexis Mac Allister to be shown a card for Argentina, setting the tone with a couple of strong tackles in the middle of the park.
With Lionel Messi in the kind of form that he seems to be showcasing, Argentina will come into matches as favourites more often than not, and with such excellent strength in depth throughout the entire 26-man squad, we're expecting them to have too much quality for Austria here. Topping the group is still very much the aim for Lionel Scaloni's side, who will be keen to avoid any fellow international powerhouses for as long as possible, so we anticipate another eye-catching performance to give them a healthy lead over Austria, Algeria, and Jordan.
So with that being said, the fourth and final pick of our World Cup bet builder is for Argentina to beat Austria, extending their winning run to nine matches.
You can bet on each of these markets individually, or combine them to create an Argentina vs Austria Bet Builder. Plus, with Bet Builder+, you can combine your bet not only with other World Cup matches, but also with different sports.
Argentina vs Austria takes place on Monday, 22 June, with kick-off for the Group J match scheduled for 18:00 BST.
How can I watch Argentina vs Austria at the World Cup?
The World Cup match, Argentina vs Austria, will be shown live on BBC and BBC iPlayer for UK viewers.
Can you bet on Argentina vs Austria?
Ladbrokes are offering customers the chance to bet on a number of Argentina vs Austria markets, including match result, both teams to score, and over/under total goals.
