Messi Breaks World Cup All-Time Goals Record as Argentina Advance

• Lionel Messi has once again etched his name into football history, becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history after scoring twice in Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Football legend Lionel Messi has achieved yet another historic milestone, breaking the FIFA World Cup all-time goals record during Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Argentine captain entered the match tied with German great Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record of 16 World Cup goals. Despite missing an early penalty, Messi responded in trademark fashion, scoring in the first half before adding another goal deep into stoppage time to seal Argentina’s victory.

The brace took Messi’s World Cup tally to 18 goals, making him the highest goalscorer in the tournament’s history and cementing his status as one of the greatest footballers ever to play the game. The achievement comes just days before his 39th birthday and in what is widely expected to be his final World Cup appearance.

Messi’s goals were enough to secure Argentina’s place in the knockout stage of the tournament with a game to spare. Remarkably, all five of Argentina’s goals in the competition so far have come from the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

The record-breaking performance also marked another impressive feat for Messi, who has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, joining an exclusive list of football legends to achieve the milestone.

Argentina, the defending world champions, continue to look like strong contenders for another title as Messi leads from the front. His latest heroics have sparked celebrations across the football world, with fans and pundits praising his ability to continue performing at the highest level despite approaching his 39th birthday.

Having already won the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, Messi’s latest achievement further strengthens his legacy in international football. With the knockout stages still ahead, the Argentine superstar now has the opportunity to extend his record and guide his nation on another memorable World Cup journey.

For football fans around the globe, Messi’s record-breaking night serves as another reminder of why he is regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.