Messi becomes all-time World Cup top scorer as Argentina beat Austria 2-0

Lionel Messi has written another chapter in football history by becoming the outright top scorer in World Cup tournaments, netting both goals in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday. The 39-year-old captain, who had earlier missed a penalty, scored his 17th World Cup goal with a low strike to surpass Germany's Miroslav Klose, then added an 18th in stoppage time from a tight angle. The match took place 40 years to the day since Diego Maradona scored twice against England in the 1986 World Cup quarter-finals. Messi is now the all-time leading scorer across men's World Cup tournaments, with 18 goals in 28 games. He is appearing at his sixth World Cup and has scored in six consecutive matches, joining an exclusive group that includes France's Just Fontaine (1958) and Brazil's Jairzinho (1970). All five of Argentina's goals at this tournament have come from Messi. His performance drew praise from commentators, with BBC's Steve Bower calling it "another immortal Messi moment". Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague noted that Messi now plays with intelligence rather than pace, saying: "He doesn't even need explosive pace to beat defenders, he just does it with intelligence." Argentina, already guaranteed a place in the last 32, will face Jordan next.

Messi's international career nearly ended a decade ago after Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years. In 2016, following defeat to Chile in the Copa America final where he missed a penalty in the shootout, Messi announced his retirement from the national team. "For me, the national team is over," he said at the time. "I've done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion." However, he reversed that decision and has since led Argentina to two consecutive Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup, where he scored seven goals including two in the final. Since turning 35, Messi has scored 12 of his 18 World Cup goals. Remarkably, four of his tournament goals have come from outside the box, and all but two have been struck with his left foot.

Balague described Messi's longevity as remarkable: "I have seen him play World Cups where he couldn't last 90 minutes. Here at the end, he was running like anyone else, now he knows his body so well." Former Wales defender Ashley Williams questioned on BBC One: "Are we looking at the greatest player ever? It's possible and definitely worth the debate." Messi himself reflected on the joy of performing: "I enjoy playing and having a good time on the pitch," he said. "We enjoy seeing the people like this too, being able to give them this kind of joy."