Lionel Messi etched his name permanently at the summit of World Cup scoring history on Monday night, netting twice as Argentina dispatched Austria 2-0 in a Group J clash held in Dallas. The victory sent the defending champions into the last 32 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while Messi himself surpassed the long-standing record previously held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
The Goals That Made History
Messi‘s record-breaking 17th World Cup goal arrived in the 38th minute, the product of sharp combination play inside the penalty area. Thiago Almada cleverly allowed Facundo Medina‘s cutback to roll through his legs, leaving Messi to sweep a first-time finish into the net from just inside the box. The moment drew him level with — and then, in an instant, ahead of — Klose‘s tally of 16, which had stood since the 2014 tournament.
His second, and 18th overall, arrived deep into second-half stoppage time. After Julian Alvarez was denied by Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, Messi collected the rebound and drove the ball home from a tight angle, squeezing it past two defenders. The strike sealed the win and extended his own record in emphatic fashion.
A Penalty Miss Before the Milestone
The evening could have unfolded even more dramatically. Just eight minutes in, Argentina were awarded a spot-kick after Stefan Posch fouled Lautaro Martinez, with Xaver Schlager also involved in the challenge. Messi stepped up — but fired the penalty wide, temporarily delaying his date with history.
That early setback, however, did little to diminish his influence on the match. He recovered to deliver a performance that underlined why he remains the defining figure of his generation, turning a moment of frustration into a night of celebration.
Argentina Advance, Austria Still in Contention
With six points from two matches, Argentina joined Mexico, the United States, and Germany as the first sides to secure their places in the round of 32. They will be confirmed as Group J winners should Jordan fail to defeat Algeria in the later fixture.
Austria, coached by former Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick, remain alive in the competition with three points. Their hopes of progression were not helped by a missed opportunity to level the score before Messi‘s second — Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez produced a strong save to deny a powerful free-kick from Marcel Sabitzer, who was marking his 100th international cap on the night.
A Career Defined by World Cup Brilliance
The statistics surrounding Messi‘s World Cup record are staggering. Of his 18 tournament goals, 12 have come after he turned 35 — a remarkable testament to his longevity and sustained excellence. He has now scored in six consecutive World Cup matches, a feat achieved by only two players before him: France’s Just Fontaine in 1958 and Brazil’s Jairzinho in 1970.
His World Cup journey began two decades ago, when he netted against Serbia and Montenegro as an 18-year-old in 2006. A blank in 2010 was followed by four goals in 2014 — including a brace in a 3-2 victory over Nigeria — and one more in 2018, also against Nigeria. The 2022 edition in Qatar proved his crowning achievement: seven goals, including two in the final against France, which Argentina won 4-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw at the end of extra time.
Now representing Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, Messi arrived at this tournament three goals behind Klose. A hat-trick against Algeria in the opening group game drew him level, and this brace against Austria put him clear. His international record for Argentina now stands at 122 goals in 201 appearances.
France‘s Kylian Mbappé, 27, is currently joint third on the all-time list with 15 World Cup goals, having scored against Iraq on Monday. He will be watching Messi‘s tally closely.
The All-Time World Cup Scoring Chart
The updated standings among the tournament’s greatest scorers reflect Messi‘s historic achievement:
- 18 goals — Lionel Messi (Argentina, 2006–2026)
- 16 goals — Miroslav Klose (Germany, 2002–2014)
- 15 goals — Ronaldo (Brazil, 1994–2006)
- 15 goals — Kylian Mbappé (France, 2018–2026)
- 14 goals — Gerd Müller (West Germany, 1970–1974)
- 13 goals — Just Fontaine (France, 1958)
- 12 goals — Pelé (Brazil, 1958–1970)
- 11 goals — Sándor Kocsis (Hungary, 1954)
- 11 goals — Jürgen Klinsmann (West Germany/Germany, 1990–1998)
- 10 goals — Helmut Rahn (West Germany, 1954–1958)
- 10 goals — Gary Lineker (England, 1986–1990)
- 10 goals — Gabriel Batistuta (Argentina, 1994–2002)
- 10 goals — Harry Kane (England, 2018–2026)
- 10 goals — Teófilo Cubillas (Peru, 1970–1982)
- 10 goals — Thomas Müller (Germany, 2010–2022)
- 10 goals — Grzegorz Lato (Poland, 1974–1982)
What Comes Next for Both Teams
Argentina close out their Group J campaign against Jordan on 28 June, with Messi likely eyeing further additions to his record tally. Austria, meanwhile, face Algeria in a simultaneous kick-off at 03:00 BST on the same date, knowing that only a win will keep their World Cup hopes alive.
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