The Bengal Story Bureau: ARLINGTON: Lionel Messi has written a new chapter in football history by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer at the FIFA World Cup. The Argentina captain scored his 17th and 18th tournament goals during a 2-0 victory over Austria on Monday, officially surpassing the long-standing men’s record of 16 goals held by Germany’s Miroslav Klose.
The historic achievement at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington also secured Argentina’s place in the Round of 32. Messi, who will celebrate his 39th birthday on Wednesday, now holds the outright scoring record across both the men’s and women’s global tournaments, having also overtaken Brazilian legend Marta’s mark of 17 goals.
A Dramatic First Half and Record Strike
The milestone did not arrive without initial frustration. In the ninth minute of the Group J clash, Messi had the opportunity to break Klose’s record from the penalty spot after Lautaro Martinez was fouled inside the box. However, the veteran forward pulled his left-footed effort wide of the right post, registering his third missed penalty in World Cup play outside of shootouts.
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Despite the early setback, the Argentine captain responded exactly 30 minutes later. In the 39th minute, a well-orchestrated team move saw the ball cut back into the penalty area. Messi arrived with perfect timing to drive a first-time finish past Austria goalkeeper Alexander Schlager, claiming the outright men’s record.
Sealing the Victory and Knockout Berth
With Austria pushing for an equaliser late in the game, Argentina found space to counterattack. Deep into stoppage time, Julian Alvarez saw an initial shot saved, but Messi pounced on the rebound. After his first attempt was blocked by a defender, he smashed a low strike into the net from six yards out to seal the 2-0 victory.
The brace against Austria follows a remarkable start to his 2026 campaign. Just days earlier, Messi scored the first World Cup hat-trick of his career in a 3-0 win over Algeria during his 200th international appearance. He now leads the tournament’s Golden Boot race with five goals in two matches.
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The Undisputed Global Leader
Klose had held the men’s record since 2014, when he surpassed Brazil’s Ronaldo during Germany’s title-winning campaign. Now, 20 years after his first World Cup goal in 2006, Messi stands alone at the summit of the sport’s biggest stage. Argentina will now prepare for the knockout phases as they look to defend their world title.
