Lionel Messi once again etched his name into football history, becoming the FIFA World Cup’s all-time leading goalscorer as Argentina secured a place in the last 32 with a victory over Austria on Monday.
The Argentine captain delivered a memorable performance in Dallas, scoring twice to take his World Cup tally to 18 goals. The achievement sees Messi surpass former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who previously held the record with 16 goals scored across tournaments between 2002 and 2014.
Messi’s landmark first goal came in the 38th minute of the Group J clash. A clever move involving Thiago Almada and Facundo Medina created the opportunity, with Medina’s cut-back expertly allowed to run through by Almada before Messi swept a first-time finish into the net from inside the penalty area.
The football icon added his second goal deep into second-half stoppage time, showing his trademark composure by firing home from a tight angle despite pressure from two Austrian defenders.
The historic night could have become even more memorable much earlier. Just eight minutes into the match, Argentina were awarded a penalty after Stefan Posch brought down Lautaro Martínez in the box. Messi stepped up with the chance to break the record from the spot, but his effort drifted wide. Fortunately for Argentina, the missed opportunity did little to affect the outcome, as Messi responded in spectacular fashion to lead his side to victory.
The brace also strengthened Messi’s remarkable start to the 2026 World Cup. Having already scored a hat-trick in Argentina’s 3-0 opening win over Algeria, he now leads the tournament scoring charts with five goals from just two matches.
The result confirms Argentina’s place in the knockout stage with six points from two games. The defending champions join Mexico, United States, and Germany among the teams that have already secured qualification for the last 32.
Argentina could also finish the group stage as Group J winners, depending on the outcome of Jordan’s match against Algeria later in the day.
As Messi approaches his 39th birthday, the Argentine legend continues to redefine greatness. On a night filled with records and celebration, he once again proved why he remains one of football’s most influential and enduring stars.
