Lionel Messi made his mark in the history books once again on Monday by becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history, scoring twice in Argentina’s Group J clash against Austria to take his tally to 18 goals across six tournaments.
The Argentine captain opened the scoring in the 38th minute at Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas, surpassing former Germany striker Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 World Cup goals. Messi added another goal deep into stoppage time to extend his tally to 18 and move ahead of Brazilian legend Marta, who scored 17 goals in FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments.
The record-breaking performance came just days after the “La Pulga” netted a hat-trick against Algeria, drawing level with Klose’s long-standing mark and setting the stage for another historic milestone.
Playing in a record sixth FIFA World Cup, the 38-year-old continues to redefine longevity and excellence on football’s biggest stage, breaking several tournament records, including most World Cup appearances, most World Cup victories and most minutes played in the competition’s history.
Messi now has 121 goals in 201 appearances for Argentina and remains central to the country’s hopes to defend their 2022 title.
Argentina secures qualification for the knockout stage with a victory over Austria, while Messi continues his legacy as one of the greatest players in football history.
