Messi breaks World Cup scoring record as Argentina advance

Lionel Messi has become the all-time leading goalscorer in men’s World Cup history, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose with his 17th career tournament goal. The milestone was achieved during Argentina’s 2-0 Group J victory over Austria at the 2026 World Cup, securing the defending champions’ progression to the last 32 of the tournament.

The 38-year-old Inter Miami forward opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a precise left-footed curler. He extended Argentina’s lead deep in injury time, capitalising on a rebound from a Julian Alvarez shot that had been saved by Austrian goalkeeper Alexander Schlager. The result confirmed Argentina’s status as the team to beat in a tournament hosted across North America.

The match took place at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas, in front of a crowd of 70,649 spectators. As the national team captain, Messi’s performance reinforced Argentina’s standing as holders entering the knockout stages of the competition.

Messi’s achievement ends the long-standing record held by Klose, who previously led the all-time scoring charts. The Argentine forward’s consistency across multiple World Cup cycles has established a new benchmark for individual scoring in the sport’s premier global event.

Argentina’s victory over Austria ensures their place in the next round of the 2026 tournament. The team’s progression highlights their dominance in Group J and sets the stage for their upcoming fixture in the last 32, though the specific opponent has not yet been determined.