Messi breaks World Cup goalscoring record with double against Austria

Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history on Monday, June 22, 2026, when he scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas. The goals took his World Cup tally to 18, surpassing Germany's Miroslav Klose, who held the previous record of 16 goals. Messi had tied Klose's mark just days earlier with a hat-trick in Argentina's opening match against Algeria on June 16.

The 38-year-old captain's performance was nearly overshadowed early in the match when he missed a penalty kick in the ninth minute. However, Messi recovered to curl home from a cutback in the 38th minute and added a second goal in injury time, securing Argentina's advancement to the knockout rounds. Despite the missed penalty and a free-kick attempt that went wide in the final moments, Messi demonstrated his enduring quality on the global stage. The milestone came just two days before his 39th birthday and coincided with the 40th anniversary of Diego Maradona's iconic performance against England in the 1986 World Cup.

Messi's record-breaking achievement extends beyond goalscoring. He is now the first player to feature in six different World Cup editions and has scored in six consecutive World Cup games since 2022. His 18 World Cup goals also move him ahead of women's World Cup top scorer Marta, who scored 17. With 122 international goals for Argentina, Messi trails only Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo among all international players. The victory extended Argentina's unbeaten streak in the tournament to eight matches since their shock loss to Saudi Arabia in Qatar 2022.

The achievement prompted widespread celebration across Argentine sports and culture. Former tennis player Juan Martín del Potro, basketball legend Emanuel Ginóbili, and fellow footballer Ángel di María all publicly congratulated Messi on social media. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) and major clubs including River Plate and Newell's Old Boys—Messi's first club—also celebrated the milestone. AFA president Claudio Tapia declared on social media: "With you, the only all-time top goalscorer of the FIFA World Cup. Respect the ranks, the king has arrived."

Messi expressed satisfaction with the team's performance despite his earlier frustration over the missed penalty. "Very happy for the win, it was huge, tough and difficult," he said after the match. "It would allow us to be relaxed for what's ahead." Argentina now leads Group J with six points and will conclude its group stage against Jordan.