Lionel Messi etched his name into football history on Tuesday by becoming the all-time leading scorer in FIFA World Cup history, scoring his 17th tournament goal to put Argentina ahead against Austria in a Group J match at the 2026 World Cup.
Messi’s milestone strike came in the 38th minute at Dallas Stadium, where the Argentina captain finished a low cross from Facundo Medina to give the defending world champions a 1-0 lead before halftime.
The goal moved Messi past former Germany striker Miroslav Klose, whose record of 16 World Cup goals had stood since the 2014 tournament. Klose’s mark remained untouched for 12 years before the Argentine superstar finally surpassed it on football’s biggest stage.
The historic goal completed a dramatic first half for Messi, who had earlier missed a penalty and appeared in danger of ending the match without breaking the record.
Argentina were awarded a spot kick in the ninth minute after a VAR review determined that Lautaro MartÃnez had been fouled inside the Austrian penalty area. Messi stepped up with an opportunity to become the tournament’s outright leading scorer, but his low effort drifted wide of the target, leaving the score level.
The miss did little to slow Argentina’s attacking momentum. Messi nearly redeemed himself in the 18th minute when he latched onto a through ball inside the box and slipped past an Austrian defender. However, goalkeeper Alexander Schlager reacted quickly to deny the veteran forward with a crucial save.
Austria also threatened during the opening half. Midfielder Marcel Sabitzer tested Argentina’s defense with a powerful effort in the 23rd minute, although the chance was ultimately blocked before it could seriously trouble the goalkeeper.
Messi finally found the breakthrough seven minutes before halftime. Medina surged down the left flank and delivered a precise low pass into the center of the area, where Messi arrived unmarked. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner calmly guided his shot into the lower corner, sending Argentine supporters into celebration and securing his place at the top of the World Cup scoring charts.
The strike brought Messi’s World Cup tally to 17 goals, one more than Klose’s previous record, and extended another remarkable chapter in a career already filled with historic achievements.
With the match still in progress and Argentina leading 1-0 at halftime, Messi remains in position to add to his record and further distance himself from the chasing pack of World Cup greats.
Seven minutes of stoppage time were played at the end of the first half, but neither side was able to find another goal before the break, leaving Argentina in control and Messi alone atop the tournament’s all-time scoring list.
