Dallas: Lionel Messi added another remarkable milestone to his legendary career by becoming the all-time highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history during Argentina’s 2-0 victory over Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Argentina captain surpassed German great Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record, cementing his place at the top of football’s biggest stage. The historic achievement came at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington, where Messi once again delivered on a grand occasion.
Having entered the match level with Klose on 16 World Cup goals, Messi needed just one strike to become the outright record holder. By the end of the night, he had gone even further, scoring twice and setting a new benchmark for future generations.
Messi breaks Klose’s record
The historic moment arrived in the 38th minute of the match.
After a well-worked attacking move involving Medina and a clever dummy from Enzo Fernández, Messi received the ball inside the penalty area and calmly finished with his left foot to give Argentina the lead.
The goal was his 17th in FIFA World Cup history, moving him ahead of Miroslav Klose, who had held the record since the 2014 tournament.
The strike was particularly significant because Messi had earlier missed a penalty in the eighth minute and had seen a couple of promising chances go begging. Despite those setbacks, the Argentine superstar remained composed and eventually etched his name into the record books.
Two goals on a historic night
Messi was not content with breaking one record.
Deep into stoppage time, he scored again to seal Argentina’s 2-0 victory and take his World Cup tally to 18 goals.
The second goal elevated him beyond every player in both the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cup competitions. He moved past Brazilian women’s football icon Marta, who scored 17 goals across her World Cup appearances.
The achievement further strengthened Messi’s status as one of the greatest footballers in history.
Updated World Cup scoring chart
Messi now sits alone at the top of the all-time FIFA World Cup goalscoring list.
- Lionel Messi (Argentina) – 18 goals
- Miroslav Klose (Germany) – 16 goals
- Ronaldo Nazário (Brazil) – 15 goals
- Kylian Mbappé (France) – 14 goals
- Gerd Müller (Germany) – 14 goals
The record highlights Messi’s extraordinary longevity, having competed in World Cups across two decades.
Another record for World Cup victories
Argentina’s win over Austria also helped Messi set another major milestone.
The victory was his 18th in FIFA World Cup matches, making him the player with the most wins in the tournament’s history. The previous record of 17 wins was also held by Klose.
Throughout his World Cup career, Messi has consistently delivered in crucial matches, helping Argentina reach multiple knockout stages and lifting the trophy in 2022.
Most goal contributions in World Cup history
Messi also strengthened his lead as the player with the highest number of goal contributions in FIFA World Cup history.
With 18 goals and eight assists, he now has 26 direct goal involvements in the tournament.
The previous benchmark belonged to Brazilian legend Pelé, who registered 21 goal contributions during his World Cup career.
According to statistical records, Messi’s eight assists place him among the most creative players the competition has ever seen.
A journey spanning six World Cups
Messi’s World Cup story began in Germany in 2006 when he scored his first goal as a teenager.
He endured disappointment in 2010 when he failed to score, before finding the net four times during Argentina’s run to the final in 2014.
The forward added one goal in the 2018 edition and produced a sensational campaign in 2022, scoring seven times as Argentina lifted the World Cup trophy.
His 2026 campaign has already been exceptional. Messi began the tournament with a hat-trick against Algeria, the first World Cup hat-trick of his career, before adding two more goals against Austria.
Argentina continue title defence
The victory over Austria strengthens Argentina’s position in the tournament as they continue their quest to defend the World Cup title won in Qatar four years ago.
With Messi leading from the front, Argentina remain among the favourites to lift the trophy once again.
His form, leadership and ability to deliver in decisive moments continue to inspire the reigning champions as they pursue another historic campaign.
Conclusion
Lionel Messi’s record-breaking performance against Austria will be remembered as one of the defining moments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. By becoming the tournament’s all-time leading goalscorer and extending his record with an 18th goal, the Argentine captain has once again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of football’s greatest-ever players. As Argentina’s title defence gathers momentum, Messi continues to rewrite the history books on the sport’s biggest stage.