Messi breaks World Cup scoring record as Argentina advance to knockout stages

Lionel Messi has become the all-time leading scorer in men’s FIFA World Cup history, surpassing Germany’s Miroslav Klose with his 17th tournament goal. The milestone was achieved during Argentina’s 2-0 group stage victory over Austria at the 2026 World Cup, played at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The 38-year-old Inter Miami captain opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a low, left-footed shot. The result mathematically secured Argentina’s progression to the knockout stages of the tournament, marking their second consecutive win after a hat-trick performance against Algeria in their opening match.

The match took place before an attendance of 70,649. Austria’s previous match on 22 June 2026 saw them defeat Jordan 3-1, while Argentina had defeated Algeria earlier in the day. The opening match of the tournament featured the USA defeating Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

BBC Sport published a video feature titled "All the angles of Messi's record-breaking goal," showcasing multiple camera perspectives of the opening strike. The footage highlights the technical execution of the strike that broke the long-standing record held by Klose since 2014.

Argentina’s victory solidifies their position in the group stage and sets up their next fixture in the knockout rounds. The team’s performance has been consistent, with Messi contributing significantly to their campaign since the tournament began in June 2026.