Messi becomes all-time top World Cup scorer with 18 goals on 40th anniversary of Maradona's 'Hand of God'

Argentina forward Lionel Messi (38) has become the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, netting twice against Austria on June 22 to bring his tournament tally to 18 goals. The two strikes, scored in a 2-0 victory in Dallas, moved Messi past Germany legend Miroslav Klose, with whom he had shared the record at 16 goals. Messi also extended his streak of scoring in consecutive World Cup matches to six games, tying a record held by Just Fontaine of France (1958) and Jairzinho of Brazil (1970).

The match carried special significance, as it fell exactly 40 years after Diego Maradona's iconic "Hand of God" and "Goal of the Century" performances against England in the 1986 World Cup. Messi's first goal came in the 38th minute, when he collected a layoff inside the box and fired a left-footed shot into the bottom-left corner. He celebrated with a fist pump before being mobbed by teammates. After missing a penalty in the first half, he redeemed himself in second-half stoppage time (90+5), firing home from eight metres after an initial shot was blocked. The goal was timed at 90 km/h.

With the victory, Argentina secured a place in the knockout stages with a perfect record of two wins. Messi, who will turn 39 on June 24, now holds multiple World Cup records: most goals (18), most appearances (28), most goals by a player aged 35 or older (12), and a share of the longest scoring streak (six consecutive games). His tally includes 10 goals in his last six World Cup appearances, dating back to the Round of 16 in Qatar 2022.

Japanese defender Yuto Nagatomo, who is playing in his fifth consecutive World Cup, expressed astonishment at the performances of Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland over the past two match days. "I'm speechless. It's incredible — it goes beyond amazing," Nagatomo said. "When players like that score, it lifts the team's morale and makes the World Cup more exciting. It will only strengthen football's popularity worldwide." Nagatomo, 39, is also aiming to become Japan's oldest-ever World Cup goalscorer.

Messi downplayed his individual achievements, stating: "To be honest, I'm really happy with this win. It was a hard-fought victory, and it gives us peace of mind going forward." Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez called Messi "the best player in the world." Argentina will now prepare for the Round of 16 as they seek to become the third team ever to win back-to-back World Cups.

Meanwhile, France's Kylian Mbappé scored twice in his 100th international appearance against Iraq, and Norway striker Erling Haaland also netted a brace. On the same day, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice, marking his sixth consecutive World Cup with a goal.