Lionel Messi breaks record for most World Cup goals with Austria double

Lionel Messi etched his name even deeper into football history on Monday, becoming the highest goal scorer in FIFA World Cup history. The Argentine superstar raised his tournament tally to 18 goals with a brilliant brace in Argentina’s Group J victory over Austria, surpassing the long-standing record previously shared with German legend Miroslav Klose.

“There were moments when I was really angry about missing the penalty, but I was able to make up for it,” Messi said.

Messi entered the match level with Klose after recording a hat trick in Argentina’s tournament-opening win over Algeria. Although he missed an early penalty against Austria, briefly delaying his pursuit of the record, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner quickly responded. He opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a composed finish from a cutback before adding a second goal late in the match to seal the victory.The result not only secured Argentina’s place in the knockout rounds but also reinforced Messi’s status as one of football’s greatest players. The Argentine superstar has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches dating back to the 2022 tournament.

His record-breaking 18th World Cup goal also moved him ahead of women’s World Cup all-time leading scorer Marta, who finished her illustrious career with 17 goals on football’s biggest stage.Meanwhile, France forward Kylian Mbappé continued his own impressive World Cup campaign, scoring twice in France’s 3-0 victory over Iraq. The brace lifted Mbappé to 16 World Cup goals, drawing level with Klose and placing him just two goals behind Messi’s newly established record.Speaking after the match, Messi admitted he was frustrated after missing his penalty but was pleased with the way he responded.

Messi first matched Klose’s record during Argentina’s 3-0 win over Algeria on June 16, when he scored the first World Cup hat trick of his international career. The achievement also marked the 11th hat trick for Argentina, further highlighting his extraordinary longevity and consistency.His World Cup journey began exactly two decades earlier. On June 16, 2006, an 18-year-old Messi scored his first World Cup goal against Serbia and Montenegro. Twenty years later, he continues to redefine football history, becoming the first player ever to appear in six editions of the men’s World Cup while setting a new benchmark for goals scored in the competition.The two goals against Austria also increased Messi’s international tally to 122 goals for Argentina. Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, with 143 international goals, remains ahead of him on the all-time international scoring list.Argentina’s victory also helped Messi establish another milestone, as he moved into first place for the most wins in men’s World Cup history.Despite the personal achievements, the Argentine captain remained focused on the team’s objectives.

“Beyond anything, I’m so happy for the win,” Messi said. “It was huge, tough and difficult. It allows us to be relaxed about what’s ahead. All matches in this World Cup are very even and very intense. I’m enjoying this moment and looking forward to enjoying it with my teammates.”

With Argentina advancing to the knockout stage and Messi continuing to break records at the age of 38, the defending champions are once again emerging as one of the tournament’s strongest contenders.

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