Doha, Qatar - Lionel Messi failed to convert a penalty on a night when he surpassed a Diego Maradona record, but Argentina still went on to beat Poland 2-0 and advance to the last 16 of the World Cup along with the European side – at the expense of Mexico – in a dramatic Group C finale on Wednesday.

Poland goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saved a spot kick for the second time after similar heroics in the previous game against Saudi Arabia when he denied Messi in the 39th.

Messi didn't score as he moved one ahead of Maradona with a 22nd World Cup match for Argentina but he can still dream of winning the World Cup a first time.

Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring less than a minute into the second half, and Julian Alvarez smashed the second in the 67th to see Argentina through.

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The victory put Argentina top of Group C as they rebounded from an opening shock defeat against Saudi Arabia and now face Australia in the last 16 on Saturday.

"It was a very important victory. We were under pressure after first game but have now won the group. We had no luck in first half but then scored," Brighton's Mac Allister said. "We played a big match."

Argentina avoided a meeting with France who beat them at that stage in 2018 en route to the title.

Instead, it will be Poland to face France on Sunday as they edged Mexico by one goal with both tied on four points as Mexico's 2-1 against Saudi Arabia was not enough.

Henry Martin in the 47th and Luis Chavez with a sensational free-kick five minutes later had Mexico within one goal of leapfrogging Poland but Salem Al-Dawsari's injury time goal broke their hearts and sent them out in the group stage for the first time since 1978.

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The drama was even higher because second place between Poland and Mexico was minutes away from being decided through a fourth tiebreaker, the Fair Play standings at the tournament based on yellow and red cards, which would have favored Poland.

Both would have been tied on points, goal difference, and results, had Mexico won 2-0.