By Wellington Jopelo
Lionel Messi has set a new World Cup record after becoming the all-time highest goal scorer in the history of the competition during Argentina’s 2026 World Cup match against Austria.
The Argentina captain achieved the milestone after scoring twice in a 2-0 victory, taking his total World Cup goals to 18 and moving past Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 goals.
The match also saw Messi miss an early penalty, but he recovered strongly to deliver another standout performance for his country on football’s biggest stage.
His first goal came from open play after a well-worked team move, while his second strike late in the game sealed the victory and confirmed his place in World Cup history.
The goals extended Messi’s remarkable run in the tournament, as he continues to play a key role for Argentina in their title defence campaign.
Fans inside the stadium celebrated wildly as the Argentine star reached the landmark, with teammates quickly surrounding him after the final whistle.
Football analysts say the record further strengthens Messi’s legacy as one of the greatest players of all time, especially given his consistency across multiple World Cup editions.
At 38 years old, Messi is now playing his sixth World Cup and continues to perform at the highest level despite his age and long international career.