World Cup 2026: Messi becomes all-time top scorer in World Cup history after strike against Austria

Lionel Messi has officially become the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history after scoring in Argentina’s second Group stage match against Austria at the 2026 World Cup.

The Argentine captain reached the landmark in Monday’s fixture, further extending his extraordinary record on football’s biggest stage.

Messi Breaks Klose’s Record

The decisive goal came in the 38th minute, when Messi latched onto a pass from left-back Facundo Medina before unleashing a powerful finish into the net.

That strike took his total World Cup tally to 17 goals, moving him ahead of Germany’s Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 goals.

From Equal Record to Sole Leader

Messi had initially drawn level with Klose earlier in the tournament after scoring a hat-trick against Algeria, which brought him to 16 World Cup goals.

His goal against Austria now places him outright at the top of the all-time World Cup scoring chart.

Strong Start to the 2026 Campaign

The Inter Miami forward has also taken control of the scoring race at the ongoing tournament, netting four goals so far.

Remarkably, he has scored all of Argentina’s goals in the competition to this point, underlining his importance to their World Cup campaign.

Mixed Emotions After Early Penalty Miss

Messi’s record-breaking night also included an early setback after he missed a ninth-minute penalty, firing wide in an unusual moment for the Argentine star.

However, he recovered strongly to deliver the goal that ultimately gave Argentina the lead against Austria and sealed his place in World Cup history.