Messi surpasses Klose to become World Cup’s all-time leading scorer
The 38-year-old added an 18th goal in injury time, securing Argentina’s progression to the knockout stages of the 2026 tournament.
Lionel Messi has become the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, overtaking Germany’s Miroslav Klose with his 17th tournament goal. The milestone was secured during Argentina’s group stage match against Austria at the 2026 World Cup in Arlington, Texas, where the 38-year-old captain scored twice to lead his side to a 2-0 victory.
Messi’s first goal arrived in the 38th minute with a low, left-footed strike that moved him clear of Klose’s record of 16 goals. He added an 18th goal in second-half injury time, squeezing the ball past two defenders from a tight angle. The result secured Argentina’s progression to the last 32 of the tournament, with their next match against Jordan scheduled for Sunday.
The achievement marks a significant reversal of fortune ten years after Messi announced his retirement from international football. Following a defeat by Chile in the 2016 Copa America final, where he missed a penalty in the shootout, Messi stated that his time with the national team was over. He later reversed that decision, leading Argentina to World Cup and Copa America titles and becoming only the third player to score in six successive World Cup matches.
Beyond the scoring record, Messi has created 76 chances in World Cup history, the most in the tournament’s history. In his past six World Cup matches, he has been involved in 12 goals, scoring 10 and providing two assists. However, the match also saw him become the first player to miss a penalty at the 2026 World Cup, making him the first player to miss a penalty at the 2026 World Cup and has now taken seven penalties in World Cup history (excluding shootouts), the most by any player, and has missed three.
Former England striker Chris Sutton noted that while Messi’s contribution is vital, there are concerns about Argentina’s reliance on their captain. Despite missing a penalty earlier in the match, Messi described the double as a way to reverse the situation and give joy to the fans. The victory ensures Argentina advances, leaving Messi with the opportunity to further extend his records in the final group game.
