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Lionel Messi has become the all time leading goal scorer in the history of the FIFA World Cup. The Argentine skipper, who many call the GOAT, continues to put fans in awe by breaking records even at 38 years old. He secured this historic milestone as Argentina defeated Austria 2 to 0, with Messi scoring both goals to reach an unprecedented 18 World Cup goals.
The match was not without its early drama. Messi actually missed an opportunity to score a second consecutive hat trick when he shot a spot kick off target in the ninth minute of the first half. However, Austria's inability to defend properly eventually left them exposed. An outswing pass from Facundo Medina found Messi, who struck the ball into the bottom right corner between the two posts. Despite a tense second half where Austria pushed for an equalizer, Messi finally put the game to bed in the 95th minute to secure the victory for Argentina.
With his 18th World Cup goal, Messi officially surpassed the previous record of 16 goals held by Germany's Miroslav Klose. The all time top scorers list now features Messi at the summit, followed by Klose with 16 goals, Brazil's Ronaldo with 15, and both Gerd Muller of Germany and Kylian Mbappe of France tied at 14 goals. While Klose scored his 16 goals across four World Cups, it took Messi six tournaments to reach his new tally. Before arriving at the 2026 World Cup, Messi had 13 goals in his tournament history, and he has now added a staggering five goals to set the new benchmark.
Messi is proving to be absolutely vital to his team this year, as he is the only player to score all five of Argentina's goals at this tournament in just two games. This incredible run started with a hat trick in the first round of matches against the Desert Foxes of Algeria. The obsession and ecstasy of Argentine fans have reached new heights, even to the point where seeing Messi score a hat trick has become a lifetime wish achieved. Following the match against Algeria, fans interviewed on the street by a BBC reporter publicly shared their adoration. One fan passionately claimed he loved Messi more than his wife, while others called him the undisputed number one, praising his longevity and comparing him to fine wine.
While fans often debate his ongoing rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, who has yet to score in this tournament for Portugal, Messi let his performance speak for itself by taking home the Man of the Match award.
This decisive win has now solidified La Albiceleste's position for the round of 32 as the top spot holders in Group J with six points. The defending World Cup champions now turn to prepare for their last group game against Jordan, with statistics suggesting Jordan will face a heavy challenge.