Messi sets World Cup scoring record as defending champion Argentina advances to knockout stage
- On Monday, June 22, 2026, Lionel Messi scored twice in Argentina's 2-0 victory over Austria in Dallas, becoming the outright all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history with 18 goals.
- Messi surpassed Germany striker Miroslav Klose's 16-goal men's World Cup record with his first goal, then eclipsed Brazil's Marta's 17-goal overall record with a stoppage-time strike.
- Despite missing an eighth-minute penalty kick—his third career World Cup spot-kick failure—the 38-year-old captain recovered to score in the 38th minute and again in stoppage time.
- Argentina's victory confirms the defending champions' place in the knockout stage with six points from two group matches, securing their advancement from Group J.
- The team concludes their group stage campaign against Jordan on Saturday at 9 p.m., while Messi prepares to celebrate his 39th birthday on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
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827 Articles
Messi breaks World Cup goals record
Lionel Messi added to his legacy Monday afternoon by scoring his record-breaking 17th career World Cup goal in the first half before adding his 18th in second-half stoppage time of Argentina's 2-0 win over Austria in Arlington, Texas.
Mac Engel: Messi may own the world and the World Cup, but he doesn’t own the United States
ARLINGTON, Texas — Michael Jordan has not played a basketball game since 2003, and he could not go anywhere in the world without being recognized, while his equivalent in soccer continues to play, and he could walk up and down most streets in the United States without being stopped. Argentinian Lionel Messi is the most beautiful player the beautiful game has ever seen, and on his third visit to DFW, he broke one of those impossible records that …
Magic Messi makes World Cup history
Lionel Messi became the leading scorer in World Cup history as the captain struck twice to give Argentina a 2-0 win over Austria on Monday and send the champions into the last 32. The player widely regarded as the greatest of all time pounced late in the first half in Texas with a trademark left-footed finish after neat build-up play. The predatory goal added to his hat-trick in Argentina's opening match to make it a record 17 in total at the Wo…
Ralf Rangnick considers that there was a lack of Argentina in the play that ended in Messi’s first goal. Argentina won 2-0
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