Lionel Messi became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, netting twice during Argentina’s 2-0 Group J win over Austria on Monday.
The double also extended Messi‘s scoring streak to six consecutive World Cup matches.
The Argentina captain had moved level with Brazilian great Marta, whose 17 goals in the women’s tournament had stood as the overall record, before moving clear and setting a new outright benchmark for combined men’s and women’s World Cup scoring.
He also extended his tally to five goals at this year’s edition.
Messi crowned a flowing Argentina move in Dallas, starting the attack before arriving unmarked in the penalty area to sweep a first-time finish into the bottom corner from Facundo Medina’s low cross, before later adding a stoppage-time second as he reacted quickest inside the box to seal the victory.
The Argentine talisman, who turns 39 later this week, had earlier missed a golden opportunity when he sent a penalty wide after Lautaro Martinez was fouled.
The goal sparked celebrations among a sea of Argentina shirts in Dallas, with chants of Messi‘s name echoing around the stadium as, four decades after Diego Maradona’s iconic exploits, Argentina’s latest number 10 continued to build his own World Cup legacy.
The victory secured Argentina’s place in the knockout stage with a game to spare in Group J, following their opening 3-0 win over Algeria, as Lionel Scaloni’s side maintained a perfect start to their title defence.
Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, has scored 11 of his historic total of 18 goals since turning 35. His total from the last two World Cups alone would be tied for seventh on the tournament’s all-time scoring list.
Tired
Asked for his favourite World Cup goal of his career, Messi could not pinpoint one.
“I don’t remember, really,” he said. “I’m tired. I don’t have a lot of strength and it’s hard to think for me right now. So I’m just enjoying this moment and I want to join my colleagues.”
Messi, who became one of the first two players to appear in six World Cups last week alongside Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, entered this summer’s event three goals behind Klose. Behind his first career World Cup hat trick in the Group J opener vs. Algeria on June 16, he pulled even entering the second group-stage match.
With the goal, Messi also tied a different World Cup record, scoring in his sixth straight match dating back to the 2022 World Cup which Argentina won. He’s just the third player to score in six straight World Cup matches alongside France’s Just Fontaine and Brazil’s Jairzinho.
He appeared destined to break the record approximately 30 minutes earlier when Lautaro Martinez was tackled in the box and Argentina was awarded a penalty kick. However, Messi missed the ensuing penalty kick wide of the right post in the ninth minute.
“I had the penalty that I could have scored,” Messi said. “Well, maybe had I done that, I wouldn’t have scored the others. You never know. But I’m happy about the results because of our participation and the teamwork. Well, let’s hope it will even go better.”
