Lionel Messi is now the all-time leading scorer in men’s World Cup history. He got there with a goal in the 39th minute against Austria, a classic bit of movement in the box that put Argentina up 1-0 and pushed his tournament total to 17. That’s one more than Miroslav Klose, who held the record since 2014.
The goal itself was vintage Messi. He hovered around the top of the box while Facundo Medina worked the wing. When the low cross came in, Messi stepped onto it and buried it before the Austrian defense could react. No drama. Just a finish that looked simple because he made it look simple.
This is his fourth goal of World Cup 2026, following a hat trick in Argentina’s opener against Algeria. It’s also his sixth World Cup appearance and 28th match in the tournament. Klose played in four World Cups and 24 matches.
The penalty miss and the Var reversal
This wasn’t Messi’s first chance to break the record in this game. In the ninth minute, Argentina got a penalty after VAR overturned an initial no-call. Two Austrian defenders had taken down Lautaro Martinez from behind in the box. Referees let it go at first, then reviewed and pointed to the spot.
Messi stepped up and pushed it wide right. So the record had to wait 30 more minutes. That miss could have been the story — it wasn’t.
What’s interesting about Messi’s World Cup scoring history is how uneven it is. He scored one goal in 2006 in Germany, none in 2010 in South Africa, four in Brazil in 2014, four in Russia in 2018, and seven in Qatar in 2022. Then four so far in 2026. That’s not a steady climb. That’s a guy who went quiet for a tournament, then showed up in a big way later.
What this means for the debate
Look, Messi’s legacy was already settled. He won the World Cup in 2022. He’s got eight Ballon d’Ors. But this record matters because it’s one of the last individual marks he hadn’t claimed. Klose’s 16 goals stood for 12 years. Now it’s Messi’s number.
Argentina plays next against Portugal in the knockout stage. Another goal would just be padding at this point, but with Messi you never know. He’s still out there, still hunting.
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