Lionel Messi Sets World Cup Record with Goals Against Austria
June 24, 2026 · María Pilar Ruiz
Lionel Messi has become the all-time leading goal scorer in the World Cup, surpassing Miroslav Klose's record by scoring his 17th and 18th career goals against Austria. He missed an early penalty but secured the record with two late goals. Messi's achievement comes after he tied Klose's 16 goals with a hat-trick in Argentina's previous match. The article also highlights the historical performance of Klose and the potential threat from Kylian Mbappé.
Lionel Messi stands alone among World Cup goal scorers after a landmark performance against Austria. During Argentina's 2-0 victory on Monday, Messi scored twice, elevating his career World Cup goals to 18 and breaking Miroslav Klose's long-standing record. Messi's first goal, a left-footed strike in the 38th minute, came after an earlier missed penalty—a rarity for him since a miss against Poland in 2022.
His second goal, a brilliant finish late in the game, threaded through the Austrian defense, cementing Argentina's win. Messi's World Cup journey has been remarkable, with his latest achievements following a hat-trick against Algeria, which had tied Klose's 16-goal record. Klose's own World Cup success spanned four tournaments, concluding with Germany's triumph in 2014.
Messi's World Cup story began in 2006 at age 18, with a debut goal against Serbia and Montenegro. His performances have seen ups and downs, including a goalless 2010 tournament and a 2014 final loss to Germany. However, the 2022 World Cup marked a turning point, with Messi scoring seven goals and leading Argentina to victory.
Despite his current record, Messi might face competition from France's Kylian Mbappé, who already has 14 World Cup goals at the age of 27. Mbappé's form suggests he could surpass Messi, whether in the ongoing tournament or in future editions.
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